• • • • • • March 18 • 2014
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JAMESK@PPAI.ORG • • • • • •
Top News
Expo East To Co-Locate With Imprinted Sportswear Show, Move To March In 2015
In 2015, Expo East, which PPAI produces in partnership with Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY), will be co-located with the Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS) at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show will also move from May to March 12-15, 2015.
Read More Expo East
Industry News
SXSW Promotional Products Capture Headlines; Positive Proof Promotional Products Work
PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, issued a statement last week commenting on screened luggage at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport during the South By Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas, and his rebuttal of the claim by a Palo Alto tech firm that “most of the (SXSW) freebies end up in the attic, if not the trash.”
Read More SXSW
Jetline Invests More Than $1.5 Million In Operational Improvements
Gaffney, South Carolina-based supplier Jetline’s (UPIC: jetline) has invested more than $1.5 million in improving operational efficiency and increasing business scalability. The investments were made as part of the company’s business operations and information technology transformation program, launched in 2013.
Read More Jetline
UPIC Promotional Products Credit Group Releases Benchmarking Metrics
The UPIC Promotional Products Credit Group’s recent fourth-quarter 2013 benchmarking survey found days sales outstanding increased slightly among its 31 member companies.
Read More UPIC
commonsku and NWPMA Announce Strategic Partnership
commonsku and Northwest Promotional Marketing Association (NWPMA) have announced a strategic partnership that will offer commonsku’s software as a member benefit to NWPMA members.
Read More commonsku
Tempo Industries Acquires Ribbon Badge Supplier
Supplier Tempo Industries, Inc. (UPIC: TEMP0001) has acquired the assets of APN Ribbon Badge Line (UPIC: APNCorp), a New Hyde Park, New York, supplier of ribbon rolls, ribbon badges and sashes.
Read More Tempo
National Gift Card Celebrates 10th Anniversary With New Facility
Supplier National Gift Card Corp. (UPIC: ngcgroup) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and is moving its headquarters and fulfillment center to a new 52,000-square-foot facility in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Read More National Gift Card
BIGBANG Corporate Apparel Relocates
BIGBANG Corporate Apparel (UPIC: bigbang) has moved into a new warehouse facility in Conroe, Texas. The supplier is holding a grand opening party on April 29, 10 am – 2 pm, to mark its opening. BIGBANG’s new address is 8601 Fawn Trail, Bldg. 4, Conroe, Texas 77385, and its updated phone numbers are 936-273-8218, fax: 936-273-8219 and cell: 832-233-6415.
Callard Promotional Marketing Joins The Premier Promotional Group
Distributor Callard Promotional Marketing has joined The Premier Promotional Group, an alliance of promotional products suppliers and distributors in the U.S. and Canada.
Read More Premier Promotional Group
iPROMOTEu Announces DunkFest 2014
iPROMOTEu has announced Dunk Fest 2014, the annual NCAA college basketball tournament challenge the Wayland, Massachusetts-based distributor holds each year exclusively for the promotional products industry.
Read More iPROMOTEu
In Memoriam: Stanley Rosenberg
Stanley Rosenberg, owner/partner of Chicago, Illinois, supplier Victory (UPIC: victory) passed away on March 13. He was 56.
Read More Rosenberg
PPAI News
Julie Alcaro Joins PPAI As Manager Of Certification And Curriculum
This week, PPAI welcomed Julie Alcaro to the team as the Association’s new manager of certification and curriculum. Alcaro will be responsible for the oversight of PPAI’s certification programs as well as ensuring consistency in curricula across PPAI’s professional development programs.
Read More Alcaro
Fran Ford, Castelli North America, Named Inaugural PPB Volunteer Of The Month
Beginning this month, PPAI is recognizing a PPB Volunteer of the Month. These are individuals who have dedicated their time to the progress and fulfilling the charge of a committee, advisory group, work group or task force on which they serve. This month PPAI recognizes Fran Ford, president of supplier Castelli North America, Inc. (UPIC: castelli) in Phoenix, Arizona.
Read More Volunteer
The 2014 PPAI Navigator Is Now Available
PPAI has released the digital-only 2014 Navigator. Available exclusively to Association members, the Navigator lists all PPAI supplier members indexed by company, product category, PPAI number, UPIC and geographic location. It also includes more than 90 money-saving coupons. To download the 2014 PPAI Navigator, visit www.ppai.org/members/members-only/digital-navigator.
PPAI Issues Board of Directors Call For Candidates
PPAI wants to hear from members who want to help shape the Association, who want to lead the industry or who know a fellow PPAI member who does.
If you think you can bring something new to the board, access Volunteer Central and complete your profile by April 15. Board-specific questions are included on the profile form. Questions? Contact PPAI Member Engagement Program Manager Lisa Beck at LisaB@ppai.org.
Make Your Plans Now For Promotional Products Work! Week: A Day Of Service
The second annual Promotional Products Work! Week (PPW!W) runs April 21-25. Introduced by PPAI in 2013, PPW!W is an industry-wide collaboration of regional associations, distributors, suppliers, multi-line representatives, corporations and small businesses working together to promote the use of promotional products, share facts on the medium’s effectiveness and provide greater access to the market.
Read More PPW!W
PPAI Technology Awards Now Accepting Submissions.
In an industry that prides itself on developing creative marketing programs, technology continues to play a strong role in its success. It takes a company with keen vision and unconventional thinking to create innovative and awe-inducing technological solutions. These companies deserve recognition; this is where the PPAI Technology Awards come in. It honors achievements, advancements and overall excellence for Web Content/Functionality, e-Commerce Websites, Special Interest Websites (legislation, trends, etc.), Blogs, Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Others), Video Content and Mobile. The submission deadline is April 11. Entry details are available online. Questions? Contact awards@ppai.org.
PPAI’s Webinar Series Revisits Expo 2014 And More
The PPAI webinar schedule closes out the winter with looks at working across generations, the CPSIA and highlights of The PPAI Expo 2014’s education program, among other subjects.
Read More Webinars
Product Responsibility
Product Safety Awareness Program Webinars, Next Steps Available Online
PPAI’s Product Safety Awareness program is part of a larger PPAI initiative to create confidence in promotional products as an advertising medium at every level and position it as a powerful and safe marketing strategy. As part of the program, all industry companies (regardless of member category) who want to access the PPAI marketplace through trade-show exhibit space, sponsorships and advertising must obtain Product Safety Aware status no later than the start of Expo East 2015. The requirement is for a designated roster employee to complete a minimum of four hours of product safety education, including three required webinars—Product Safety Basics, Prop 65 & State Regulations and Undue Influence Training, plus a fourth picked from a selection of approved eduation webinars and live sessions. All have been archived on PPAI’s website. The website also includes in-depth information on the program and the steps for industry companies to take to become Product Safety Aware.
For more information or questions, contact PPAI Product Responsibility Manager Tim Brown, MAS, at TimB@ppai.org or 513-755-1152.
People News
Newton Manufacturing Company (UPIC: NEWTON) has promoted Curtis Baugh to senior manager of business relations. Baugh has been with the Newton, Iowa-based distributor since 2012 and has extensive experience in all aspects of brand development, creative design and marketing, with management experience on both the supplier and distributor side of the promotional products industry, with more than 15 years of business ownership experience of an industry-related graphics art company.
Accolades
Proforma Inducts New Members Into Million Dollar Club
Distributor Proforma has inducted 18 new members into its Million Dollar Club. The club’s new members achieved more than $1 million in sales in 2013 and were recognized at the Fairmont Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Read More Proforma
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
Top-Five Products For Your Pet-Friendly Clients
Clients in the pet industry can gain more brand recognition and boost their marketing campaigns with these top five pet-related products found on SAGE Online. They are perfect in promotions for pet shops, adoption centers, pet boarding companies, pet salons, veterinarian offices, dog walks/parades and more.
Read More SAGE Fact Of The Week
This Month’s PPB
The Best Of The PPAI Expo 2014
The PPAI Expo 2014 scored a five-year high in attendance, exhibitor. Here is some of what drew them to Las Vegas.
Read More Best Of Expo
Close Up: Debbie Abergel
Life is but a dream for Debbie Abergel—actually, she’s living a couple of dreams right now, including working at her dream job as senior vice president of marketing, sourcing and compliance for Los Angeles, California, distributor Jack Nadel International (NADELINC).
Read More Abergel
A Higher Sense Of Purpose
We all understand the importance of taking good care of customers and investors, but are we also looking at the other stakeholders: our employees, the community, the environment and even our suppliers?
Read More Higher Purpose
Contribute To PPAI Publications
Diversity At Your Doorstep
How do you serve the vibrant, diverse community in which you work and live? Are you an expert at developing health awareness campaigns in different languages, or do you excel at promoting and supporting multicultural community events? PPB wants product suggestions, case studies and tips for marketing to multicultural clients, for Market to Market in May. To be a contributor, contact Jen Alexander McCall by Friday, March 21.
Counting Down The Days
June PPB's Editor's Picks will feature the best, most innovative and most clever calendars in promotional products today. Send product descriptions and large image files, as well as case studies of promotions that incorporated calendars and unique ways to pitch calendars to clients, to Jen Alexander McCall by Monday, March 21.
Fleece Outerwear
PPB is exploring fleece outerwear in the June issue. Suppliers: Please submit high-res images and product descriptions of fleece sweatshirts, jackets, hoodies, scarves, gloves and hats for possible inclusion. Distributors: Please submit decoration tips, case studies and questions about this category. Send all materials to Tama Underwood by April 16.
What Would You Do?
A Distributor Asks: Why do suppliers call me on the phone to verbally confirm orders I've submitted in writing, sometimes stopping the order if I can't take their call? I'm more comfortable submitting written orders because mistakes or more likely to be made over the phone, and I don't think these calls are necessary.
What's Your Answer? Email answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by March 28 for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue of PPB magazine.
Need peer advice on a sticky situation? Send your question to Question@ppai.org.
Read the answers to each month’s question here.
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