• • • • • • April 29 • 2014
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JAMESK@PPAI.ORG • • • • • •
Top News
Prime Resources Corp. Acquires Points Of Light Product Line
As reported last week in a PPB Newslink Breaking News alert, supplier Prime Resources Corp. (UPIC: PRIME) has acquired the Points of Light (UPIC: POINTS) product line. The acquisition comes on the heels of Prime’s acquisitions of factory direct sourcing lines Source Abroad and Get It Global earlier this year.
Read More Prime Resources Corp.
Industry News
Industry Companies Celebrate Promotional Products Work! Week
Last week marked the second annual Promotional Products Work! Week (PPW!W), during which companies and organizations from around the industry demonstrated the effectiveness of promotional products.
Read More PPW!W
The SAGE Show Education, Events Impress Attendees
For the second year, exhibitors and distributors from around the country gathered at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, April 23-25 for the SAGE Show and Education Day.
Read More SAGE Show
The IC Group Acquires White Rhino Promotional Solutions
Distributor IC Group (UPIC: ICGroup) of Salt Lake City, Utah, has acquired 32-year-old promotional products distributor White Rhino Promotional Solutions (UPIC: rhino) of Brea, California.
Read More IC Group
National Small Business Week Is Coming May 12-16
In May, the U.S. celebrates National Small Business Week. First held in 1963, the week recognizes the contributions of U.S. entrepreneurs and small-business owners.
Read More National Small Business Week
Ash City Staff Clean Up For Earth Day
Supplier Ash City (UPIC: ash0001) commemorated Earth Day this year by removing waste from the Richmond Hill, Ontario-based supplier’s office and surrounding community.
Read More Ash City
In Memoriam: Jerry O’Boyle
Jerome “Jerry” O’Boyle, the founder of supplier Journalbooks/Timeplanner Calendars (UPIC: journals), passed away on April 26. He was 81.
Read More O'Boyle
In Memoriam: Dick Dunphy, Sr.
Dick Dunphy, Sr., founder of Dick Dunphy Advertising Specialties, Inc. (UPIC: RJD), passed away April 25 at age 92.
Read More Dunphy
PPAI News
PPAI Previews Ad Agency and Advertiser Buyer Benchmark Study
PPAI has conducted a first-of-its-kind benchmark study of promotional products advertising buying habits and preferences among ad agencies and advertisers. Among its key findings, the study revealed that 96 percent of survey respondents have purchased promotional products in the past 12 months and 74 percent consider them effective or highly effective.
Read More Benchmark Study
Ellen Tucker Joins PPAI As Business Development Manager
PPAI has welcomed Ellen Tucker to the staff as its business development manager. Tucker’s background brings strong management and advertising skills, and experience working with associations, which will be of considerable value to PPAI’s business development team.
Read More Tucker
Nominate Your Pick For PPB Rising Stars
Who are this year’s Rising Stars? PPB is looking for budding industry leaders who, though early in their careers, are taking innovative approaches to lead their companies to success. We want to find those ambitious industry up-and-comers who are raising the bar on their own performance and helping their companies achieve their highest success too.
To nominate an individual as a PPB Rising Star, the magazine’s most coveted distinction, fill out the form completely and be as specific as possible when telling us about your nominee. Individuals who are selected as PPB Rising Stars will be profiled in the August PPB and recognized at the PPAI North American Leadership Conference, August 10-12 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Note: All nominees must be affiliated with PPAI member companies. Previous PPB Rising Stars are not eligible.) Deadline for nominations: Midnight CDT May 16.
Bellantone, Jenkins, Speak At The WAGE Meeting In Hong Kong
Earlier this week, PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, and Board Chair Mark Jenkins, MAS+, spoke to global industry leaders at a meeting of the World Advertising Gifts Exchange (WAGE) in Hong Kong.
Read More WAGE Group
Nominate Someone For The PPAI RAC Volunteer Award
Volunteers are the unsung heroes whose behind-the-scenes efforts keep the industry moving forward. The PPAI RAC Volunteer Award recognizes regional association members who have demonstrated an outstanding level of volunteer leadership and have made significant and measurable contributions to a regional association.
Read More PPAI RAC Volunteer Award
Technology Awards Deadline Extended
The 2014 PPAI Technology Awards are for the superstars of social media and the makers of viral videos and compelling websites. These coveted awards honor advancements, achievements and overall excellence in Web Content/Functionality, e-Commerce Website, Special Interest Website (legislation, trends, etc.), Blogs, Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Others), Video Content and Mobile apps. Entry details are available on the PPAI Technology Awards page on the Association’s website. For questions, contact awards@ppai.org. The deadline to submit is April 30.
Three Prestigious Awards, One Nomination Period
Volunteers have played an important role in PPAI since the very beginning. Whether they have served on the Association's Board, committees or have been a speaker, mentor or advocate, they have set the bar high. Nominate those whose selfless efforts and monumental devotion to the industry, the Association and their community deserve to be recognized. Read more about each of these prestigious awards to determine if you know someone worthy of recognition.
Distinguished Service Award
Hall of Fame Award
H. Ted Olson Award
The nomination period is open through May 9. For additional details, visit ppai.org/awards or call 972.258.3070.
Product Responsibility
The PPAI Product Safety Summit Comes To Boston In August
The PPAI Product Safety Summit takes place in Boston, Massachusetts, August 13-14 in conjunction with the North American Leadership Conference, with a day-and-a-half of product safety education specifically tailored for promotional products practitioners and companies. The Summit explores issues current impacting the promotional products industry, their business implications and the challenges associated with compliance. Facilitated by industry thought leaders and representatives from product safety labs and product certification groups, this eye-opening event will explore the latest developments as well as best practices in product safety compliance.
Learn more about the summit and its agenda, and register, online.
People News
Dan Ball, MAS, has joined St. Paul, Minnesota-based supplier Webb Company (UPIC: W587183) as its national sales manager. Ball brings a wealth of knowledge and industry experience to the role. He was most recently with supplier Showdown Displays.
Gina LeTourneau has joined Kirkland, Quebec-based distributor PromoCorp Marketing (UPIC: PCMCAN) as vice president. LeTourneau has over 20 years’ experience in the promotional and incentive industries in senior roles within both supplier and distributor companies, including president of Corporate Express Promotional Marketing, and more recently her own promotional and gift company. She spent several years with the Ontario Chapter of PPPC, finally serving as president, and four years on the Incentive Marketing Association board in different roles including executive vice president.
Supplier Artistic Toy Manufacturing, Inc. has added industry veteran Jim Burrow, MAS, to its sales team. Burrow, a former PPAI board member, has served on the Allentown, Pennsylvania, supplier’s advisory board for the past two years and will help expand the company’s footprint in Oklahoma and Texas. Burrow will also be active in ensuring Artistic Toy becomes involved in the Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) and the Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS).
Distributor InnerWorkings, Inc. (UPIC: corpedge) in Chicago, Illinois, has named Daniel M. Friedberg to the company’s board of directors. Friedberg is president and CEO of Sagard Capital Partners Management Corporation, and vice president and officer of Power Corporation of Canada.
Supplier Beacon Promotions (UPIC: BEACONP) has added Effie McKinney to its sales team. McKinney will serve as account manager for Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, for the New Ulm, Minnesota-based supplier.
Supplier Pentel of America Ltd.-Imprint Division (UPIC: PENTEL) has hired Karen Otterstrom and Mark Heidmann of Southeast/KO Marketing to represent the Ontario, California-based supplier in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Braintree, Massachusetts-based supplier Hub Pen Company (UPIC: HUBPEN) has hired Colleen Bibby (left) as a customer service representative. Bibby brings six years of customer service experience in the business sector and working with the general public to the role. She will cover key accounts as well as New York. Also joining the supplier is Bridget Rau as a sales support representative. With a background in retail and restaurant management, she will support sales accounts.
Regional News
HPPA Hosts Its Annual Cool Stuff Show In Houston
On April 4, the Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) hosted its annual end-user event, the “Cool Stuff Show,” at Crown Plaza-Northwest in Houston, Texas.
Read More HPPA
Accolades
Geiger Named Finalist in 2014 Informatica Innovation Awards
Geiger, a Lewiston, Maine-based distributor with division offices located throughout the continental U.S., has made the list of finalists for the 2014 Informatica Innovations Awards competition, sponsored by data integration software provider Informatica Corporation.
Read More Geiger
Vernon Company Names Hit Promotional Products Supplier Of The Year
Distributor The Vernon Company (UPIC: Vernon) awarded industry supplier Hit Promotional Products (UPIC: HITP0001) with the Newton, Iowa, distributor’s 2013 Supplier of the Year Award at the company’s annual national sales meeting in Savannah, Georgia, earlier this month.
Read More Vernon Company
Barker Specialty Holds Annual Vendor Appreciation Dinner
Barker Specialty Company (UPIC: BARKER), a distributor in Cheshire, Connecticut, hosted its annual vendor dinner on April 8 with nearly 100 suppliers in attendance.
Read More Barker Specialty
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
The Benefits Of Email Marketing
Did you know that one of the top benefits of email marketing is that it is inexpensive? Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective mediums available. Reports show for every $1 spent, $44.25 is the average return on email marketing investment. SAGE now offers an email marketing solution within SAGE Online with prices starting as low as $15 a month. To learn more about SAGE Online and the Email Marketing module, contact SAGE today. And find out how you can get on board at no additional charge through the Power of Two relationship, exclusive for PPAI members.
This Month’s PPB
Five Minutes With Scott Miller
For tough sales situations, Scott Miller and his business partner, Goose Lopez-Torres, founded Winter Park, Florida-based Complete The Pair, LLC. The company considers itself a business services provider to the industry, offering all types of businesses a new way to get an “in” with prospective customers.
Read More Miller
More Than A Bright Idea
To outsiders, promotional products may look like they haven’t changed in 100 years compared to the shiny new media now occupying the digital advertising space. With its flashy virtual marketing and mobile advertising, those media segments appear to have—in a word—innovation.
Read More Bright Idea
The Internet Of Promotional Things
As the reality of an “internet of things” comes into sharper focus, it’s inevitable that it will begin to take shape in the promotions industry as well.
Read More Internet Of Things
Contribute To PPAI Publications
Denim Apparel
From weekends to formal affairs, denim is easily one of the most popular and enduring fashion trends. PPB is exploring how this fabric is used throughout the industry in the June issue. Suppliers: Send high-res images, product descriptions and tips for decorating denim (and chambray!) shirts, pants, jackets, vests, ties, bags or other wearable items. Distributors: We want your case studies, sales tips or questions about this category. Please email submissions to TamaU@ppai.org by May 16.
Palatable Promotions
August PPB Editor’s Picks focuses on food gifts. Send us your top picks and most delectable delights, and tell us how you’ve made a promotion more palatable with a food gift. Email large image files and product descriptions, as well as case studies and tips, to Jen Alexander by May 22.
Have A Little Faith
Market to Market in August PPB examines the faith-based/religious organization sector. If you have clients in this field, we want to hear from you. Share your tips on working with clients and case studies of past programs or promotions, as well as products that pair well with faith-based campaigns. Email large image files, product descriptions and information to Jen Alexander by May 22.
What Would You Do?
A Distributor Asks: Lately some of my clients have come to demand so much of my time that I can’t serve them the way they would like and build my business through new client acquisitions at the same time. Do you have any time management tips for small distributors like me?
What's Your Answer? Email answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by April 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.
Read the answers to each month's question here.
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