• • • • • • March 4 • 2014
SEND NEWS TO
JAMESK@PPAI.ORG • • • • • •
Top News
More Than 210 Companies Have Achieved PPAI’s Product Safety Aware Status
The number of industry companies that have achieved “Product Safety Aware” status in PPAI’s Product Safety Awareness program continues to grow. Already, 216 companies have met or exceeded the Association’s product safety training and education requirements.
Read More Product Safety Aware
Industry News
Top Brands Partners With Yankee Candle Company
Top Brands, Inc. (UPIC: topbrand) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has partnered with Yankee Candle Company to be its exclusive supplier as it enters the promotional products industry.
Read More Top Brands
Manufacturers Optimistic About 2014
U.S. manufacturers are heading into 2014 with increased confidence in the economy as a whole and an optimistic outlook for growth in production and hiring, according to the second annual Sage Manufacturing Survey from business management software and services provider Sage. The survey says manufacturers anticipate an increase in orders, production and exports. The survey included 139 small and mid-sized manufacturers in a variety of industries.
Read More Manufacturers
Survey Finds Brands Not Prepared For Customer Complaints On Social Media
A recent survey conducted by Social Media Marketing University (SMMU) uncovered that while brands are plagued by negative posts created by customers, competitors and employees, more than 50 percent don’t have a strategy in place to manage this growing problem.
Read More Social Media
SAGE Announces SAGE Show 2014 Education Day Schedule And Speakers
Speakers have been announced for the second annual SAGE Show Education Day, to be held at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on Wednesday, April 23. The SAGE Show Education Day will be followed by two full show exhibit days, April 24-25, with the last day being open to distributors’ end-user clients.
Read More SAGE Show
PPEF Scholarship Application Deadline Is March 15
The Promotional Products Education Foundation’s (PPEF) 2014 scholarship program is accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year. The deadline for submissions is March 15. Funded by donations from the promotional products industry and PPAI, the scholarship program enables youth and professionals to continue their education on a collegiate level. Application forms and guidelines for the PPEF scholarship program are available at www.ppef.us. Application information can also be obtained by contacting Sara Besly at SaraB@ppai.org. Winners of the scholarships will be announced in May.
GatewayCDI Releases Update On PCI Compliance Initiative
GatewayCDI (UPIC: GATE0002) has released new information about the St. Louis, Missouri-based distributor’s ongoing Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance initiative.
Read More GatewayCDI
PPAI News
Promotional Products Work! Week: Kick Off Events
Promotional Products Work! Week (PPW!W), the industry’s global awareness week launched last year, returns April 21-25. PPW!W, introduced by PPAI, 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
RAC Leadership Visits PPAI Headquarters
Last week, PPAI hosted a visit from Ted Fuehr, MAS, current Regional Association Council (RAC) president, and Rebecca McLaughlin, CAS, RAC vice president.
Read More RAC Visit
PPAI Now Accepting Technology Awards 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.
Read More Technology Awards
Nominate Your Company For PPB’s Greatest Companies To Work For
Do you work for one of the greatest companies in the promotions industry? Would you recommend your company to a friend? If so, tell PPB about it. The magazine is seeking nominations for its annual editorial recognition program to spotlight some of the industry’s greatest companies. If your company is selected, it will be included in an upcoming feature article.
Nominations will close at midnight CST on March 14. Companies nominated must be current members of PPAI. Previous companies selected for the honor are no longer eligible. Click here for the nomination form.
PPAI’s Woman of Achievement Award Is Looking For Industry Leaders
Women are increasingly playing a larger role in the advancement of the promotional products industry. Each year, their hard work and contributions help pave the way for future women leaders. The PPAI Woman of Achievement Award helps make sure those actions don’t go unnoticed. Woman of Achievement award recipients are chosen based on the long-term impact of their career achievements and their commitment to the promotional products industry.
PPAI asks members to nominate the iconic women in their lives that keep moving the industry forward. The nomination period ends March 14. For detailed information, visit the website. Contact awards@ppai.org or call 972.258.3070.
Revisit The Expo Through PPAI’s Webinar Series
The PPAI webinar series moves through the final weeks of winter with sessions that look at branding, social media best practices and some of the 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.
Read More Product Safety Aware
People News
Chicago, Illinois-based supplier Pingline (UPIC: PINGLINE) has hired Allison Schaffer, CAS, formerly of Soundline and R.S. Owens, as director of sales and marketing.
Hub Pen Company (UPIC: HUBPEN) has promoted Melissa Bettua (left) to sales executive for the Southeastern United States. Bettua joined the company in 2013 as a sales support assistant. In her new role, she will be responsible for increasing sales and market penetration within the Southeast and will also manage several multi-line reps. The Braintree, Massachusetts-based supplier has also hired Grant Russell, of Russell Agencies (UPIC: RUSSP002), to be its representative in the greater Toronto area.
Joe Torrago has joined TradeNet Publishing, Inc. (UPIC: TRADENET) as chief operating officer. Torrago, previously a senior project manager and vice president at Hallmark Cards, will manage the day-to-day operations at the Gardner, Kansas, supplier and is tasked with aligning operations with the company’s strategic direction.
Bugatti-Sedona, Inc. (UPIC: B545540) has brought Dale Jalovec and Sherry Maresh on to represent the Montreal, Quebec-based supplier in the Western United States, including Alask and Hawaii. They will be the company’s representatives for all sales, customer service, product presentations and follow-ups its clients need.
Bright Stores, Inc. (UPIC: bsi), a supplier in Evergreen, Colorado, has hired Cheryl Grisar as sales professional for the company’s Bright Sites ecommerce system. Grisar brings a background in sales, sales management, marketing and client relations to the role.
Supplier ETS Express (UPIC: ETSE) added a number of new members to the Oxnard, California, company’s sales team. Mark Chipchase is the supplier’s new multi-line sales representative for the Mid-Atlantic territory; Julie Roben has is the factory sales representative for the Northwest territory; and Jared Dahl has been hired on as strategic accounts manager, responsible for updating internal systems and building relationships with existing accounts.
Oakland, California-based supplier ALPI International (UPIC: ALPI0002) has hired Tim Gibson as director of sales. Gibson has more than 25 years of experience in the promotional products industry and is the current Promotional Marketing Association of Northern California (PMANC) board vice president.
Regional News
SAAC Foundation Scholarship Application Deadline Is April 15
The Specialty Advertising Association of California’s (SAAC) Foundation for SAAC Scholarship is now accepting applications. The Foundation’s Past Presidents Scholarships for Academic Excellence and Achievement award up to $1,000 each year to the children of individuals in the promotional products industry who are members of SAAC. The Foundation for SAAC Presidents Scholarship Program recognizes and encourages academic performance, intellect and achievement as well as personal growth through participation in extracurricular activities within the civic and academic communities. The deadline to submit an application is April 15. More details are available on the SAAC website.
Accolades
Crystal D Recognizes Employees’ Accomplishments During WOW Day
On January 30, employees at Crystal D gathered for the St. Paul, Minnesota, supplier’s 12th annual WOW Day recognition event.
Read More Crystal D
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
Client Day at the SAGE Show, April 25, 2014
The SAGE Show is the largest client show in the Central U.S. Promotional products industry professionals know the major benefits and impact promotional products can have on a company’s marketing and advertising efforts. However, everyone else (including clients) may not be aware of the real value promotional products can bring to their business.
The 2014 SAGE Show comes to Fort Worth, Texas, April 23-25. On April 25 attendees are welcome to invite their clients to walk the show floor in an opportunity to educate them on the benefits of promotional products and open their minds to thousands of ideas. To register today, visit www.sageshow.com. And click here to learn more about the Power Of Two, an exclusive relationship available to PPAI members.
This Month’s PPB
It’s A Winner
The lights were low and the excitement was high as PPAI announced the winners of this year’s awards competition during the Awards Presentation & Reception at The PPAI Expo in January.
Read More Winners
Prom Promo
A PPAI Pyramid Award-winning campaign reaches out to high school seniors with a three-tiered promise.
Read More Prom
For The Fun Of It
Jeff Stevens traded PCs for promotional products, becoming a multi-line sales rep and building a well-rounded life in the process.
Read More Stevens
Contribute To PPAI Publications
Sweater Weather
As another winter comes and goes (So long, polar vortex!) PPB is looking ahead to the next crop of sweaters and knits that will provide protection from Old Man Winter. Suppliers: Send high-res images and product descriptions of your sweaters, scarves, hats, wraps, socks, legwarmers and the like for inclusion in PPB's May issue. Distributors: Tell us what knitwear items your customers love or share decorating tips for knits. Email all materials to Tama Underwood by March 14.
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.
Industry Job Listings
PPAI Website
PPAI Publications
Subscribe To PPB Newslink
Advertise In PPB
PPAI LAW
PPAI Product Safety
Promotional Consultant Today
<a href="http://www.magnet101.com/link.cfm?r=1154512158&sid=33425555&m=3764790&am