• • • • • • April 8 • 2014
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Top News
PPAI Names Congresswoman Renee Ellmers 2014 Legislator Of The Year
PPAI announced today that Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) has been named the Association’s 2014 Legislator of the Year. The award will be presented Thursday during the PPAI Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.) in Washington, D.C.
Read More Legislator Of The Year
L.E.A.D. Calls Industry To Action With Virtual Fly-In And Capitol Hill Meetings
PPAI is in Washington, D.C., this week to meet with members of Congress and federal agencies for the fifth annual PPAI L.E.A.D. (Legislative Action and Action Day) and Virtual Fly-In.
Read More L.E.A.D.
Industry News
Optimism Is Up For Small Businesses In March, Study Shows
Small-business owners saw a two-point rise in March over February according to the latest monthly survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The Small Business Optimism Index rose two points in March to 93.4, mostly reversing the February decline but failing once again to breach the 95 ceiling that has capped the Index during the recovery.
Read More Small Business
Brands’ Organic Reach On Facebook Set To Disappear
Many promotional products industry businesses use social media to promote themselves—and Facebook has become the most popular site for self-promotion efforts because of organic reach—the number of people who see a business’s post on their news feed through friend’s comments, shares, events and the like, rather than due to a paid ad placement. Now, new research has shown that, because of changes implemented by the site, organic reach is expected to drop to zero.
Read More Facebook
Pro Towels Implements Employee Peer Recognition Program
Pro Towels (UPIC: PROTOWEL) recently implemented a Company Care Campaign. This campaign was created for employees to acknowledge the value their peers bring to the company on a daily basis.
Read More Pro Towel
Spector & Co. Promotones Take First Place At G!EE 9-5 Edition Show
A group of Spector & Co. (UPIC: SPEC0038) employees took part in the G!EE 9-5 Edition show on April 3 at Montreal, Quebec’s Théâtre St-Denis.
Read More Spector & Co.
Trend Brand Solutions Joins The Premier Promotional Group
Distributor Trend Brand Solutions (UPIC: trend10) of Tomball, Texas, 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
Midnite Snax Relocates To Bethpage, New York, Facility
Supplier Midnite Snax (UPIC: midnite) has relocated to a new, state-of-the-art 75,000-square-foot manufacturing and production facility in Bethpage, New York.
Read More Midnite Snax
Sander Specialty Products Now Smartcat Marketing Solutions
Sander Specialty Products (UPIC: SAND0003), a Cincinnati, Ohio-based distributor, has changed its name to Smartcat Marketing Solutions.
Pam Sander, company president, says, “Smartcat has been our promotional spokesperson and mascot for the past five years and we think our new name better exemplifies the full range of advertising services we supply.”
PPAI News
Eleven Industry Professionals Earn Industry Certifications
A number of industry professionals took advantage of the education opportunities available to them and earned their professional designations in February and March. Professionals who earn PPAI professional development designations signify 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 Certifications
J. Charles Crystalworks’ Tessa Trumble Visits PPAI Headquarters
Tessa Trumble, Southeast and key accounts manager for J. Charles Crystalworks (UPIC: JCHARLES), visited PPAI headquarters in Irving, Texas, recently to learn more about the Association and meet with the awards and recognition team.
Read More Trumble
PPAI Technology Awards Is 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. They honor 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 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.
PPAI’s April Webinar Series Looks To Expo 2014 Highlights
For April, the PPAI webinar series brings together a number of the education opportunities last seen during 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.
For more information or questions, contact PPAI Product Responsibility Manager Tim Brown, MAS, at TimB@ppai.org or 513-755-1152.
People News
Los Angeles, California-based CleggPromo (UPIC:CLEGG) has hired Tony Tuso, MAS (left), of Tuso Marketing, to serve as the company’s representative in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The supplier has also named Miguel Martinez its national sales manager, with oversight over all national accounts and trade-show attendance.
InnerWorkings, Inc. has hired Brad DeHart as its new global vice president of business development. DeHart brings considerable marketing industry experience to the Chicago, Illinois-based distributor, including more than 10 years spent working with and for large advertisers and marketing leaders across the Fortune 500 portfolio.
Jetline (UPIC: jetline), headquartered in Gaffney, South Carolina, has named Brandon Pecharich as Southwest regional sales manager. Pecharich’s territory will include Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Seth Diamond has joined Stamford, Connecticut distributor Lapine Associates, Inc. (UPIC: LAPI0001) as chief insights officer. At Lapine, Diamond will be responsible for strengthening and evolving the insights discipline with regard to research capabilities, insights and strategy development and measurement approaches to provide even more comprehensive merchandise programs that speak to the unique needs and identities of the brands it supports.
Regional News
HPPA Donation Drive To Collect Goods For Those In Need
The Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) is holding a donation drive to support a number of good causes as part of Promotional Products Work! Week.
Read More HPPA
iClick And NWPMA Partner On PPW!W Event
The Northwest Promotional Marketing Association (NWPMA) and Seattle, Washington-based supplier iClick (UPIC: IClic342) have partnered to host an event Wednesday, April 23, in support of Promotional Products Work! Week (PPW!W).
Read More NWPMA
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
April Showers Bring Flower-Inspired Products
Spring is here! Flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping. Welcome spring with these top five lawn and garden products, perfect for client give a ways, employee gifts and simple hand-outs.
Read More SAGE
This Month’s PPB
DIY Performance Evaluations
Performance management has very little to do with the evaluation form and almost everything to do with correct goal-setting and measurement.
Read More Evaluations
Message Matters
For 70 years, the decorating experts at supplier Finn Graphics, Inc. (UPIC: FINNLINE), in Cincinnati, Ohio, have helped clients bring messages to life through time-tested and cutting-edge printing processes, creating products that leave lasting impressions on recipients.
Read More Finn Graphics
A Cup Of Creativity
Drinkware requests are as varied as the options on the market today. But their popularity belies some singular challenges for suppliers and promotional consultants, who must make sure the options they offer are user-friendly, safe and durable.
Read More Drinkware
Contribute To PPAI Publications
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.
Around The House
Editor's Picks in June will focus on products made for use in and around the home. Suppliers, send images and descriptions of kitchen, home improvement, yard, toolshed and garage products by April 17. Distributors, send your case studies or share your tips on pairing these products with programs to Jen Alexander McCall by April 17.
Senior Solutions
June PPB's Market to Market examines the senior/retiree market. Volunteer your expertise and share what you know about working with clients in this sector; email Jen Alexander McCall by April 17. Suppliers, send images and descriptions of products suited for this market by April 17.
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 4 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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