• • • • • • June 10 • 2014
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Top News
HALO Branded Solutions Acquires Chesapeake Business Solutions
Sterling, Illinois-based distributor HALO Branded Solutions (UPIC: HBS) has acquired Chesapeake Business Solutions, a promotional products distributor based in Hanover, Maryland, as first announced in a PPB Newslink Breaking News alert this past Friday. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Read More HALO
Industry News
Logomark Draws Almost 100 Industry Leaders To MyLogomark Marketing Hub Software Introduction
Supplier Logomark (UPIC: logomark), known for its wide range of hard goods, announced its entry into promotional printing and packaging with the launch of a proprietary marketing software suite, MyLogomark Marketing Hub.
Read More Logomark
Delta Apparel To Shift Some Fabric Production To Honduras
Supplier Delta Apparel (UPIC: delta03) announced last week that it will consolidate production of basic, blank t-shirts at its facility in Honduras.
Read More Delta Apparel
Ennis Acquires Assets Of Sovereign Business Forms
Supplier Ennis, Inc. (UPIC: ennis) has announced that two of its subsidiary companies have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Sovereign Business Forms, Inc. and five related entities.
Read More Ennis
Loyalty Programs Found To Drive Millennials’ Brand Loyalty
Bond Brand Loyalty, in its fourth annual Loyalty Report, found 69 percent of the 6,000 consumers it surveyed are satisfied with the loyalty programs they participate in, and among millennials (20-34 years old), loyalty programs have come to be expected.
Read More Loyalty
Nation’s Job Openings Climb To 4.5 Million In April
Job openings reached 4.5 million at the end of April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, up from 4.2 million in March.
Read More Job Openings
SBA To Revise Small Business Size Standards In 47 Industries
The U.S. Small Business Administration recently proposed increasing small-business size standards that would affect businesses in 47 industries in the wholesale and retail trades. If adopted, nearly 4,000 more firms will become eligible for SBA’s loan programs, including those in manufacturing and advertising, public relations and related service firms.
Read More SBA
DMA To Host Webinar On Canada’s Upcoming Anti-Spam Regulations
On July 1, the Canada Anti-Spam Law (CASL) takes effect. The law applies to all “commercial electronic messages” and requires senders to have explicit, prior consent from recipients. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is hosting a webinar, “Preparing For CASL: A Checklist For Email Marketers,” on June 27, 2 – 3 pm EDT, on navigating the new regulations. Industry professionals interested in learning more about CASL can click here.
PPAI News
PPAI’s New App Is Catching On With Mobile Users
The popularity of PPAI’s new publications app, PPAI Media, continues to rise as members discover the convenience and ease of being able to access PPAI publications on their iPad or Android tablet.
Read More App
Nine Industry Members Earn Professional Certifications
In recent months, a number of industry professionals have taken advantage of the education opportunities available to them and earned their professional designations. Professionals who earn PPAI professional development designations signify they have invested in their skills and careers.
Read More Certifications
PPAI’s Image Awards Is Looking For Industry Branding Leaders
Building a brand image requires a lot of time, planning and creativity. Each year, the PPAI Image Awards recognize member companies who differentiate their services by effectively branding and marketing their business with a touch of creativity. Competition categories include Self-Promotion Campaigns, Branding, Printed Supplier Catalogs, Electronic Supplier Catalogs, Printed Distributor Catalogs and Electronic Distributor Catalogs. Submissions are due by July 11 and companies looking to put their best on display should enter today. Questions? Contact awards@ppai.org or call 972-258-3070.
Enter PPAI’s Pyramid Awards Today
The Pyramid Awards are the cream of the crop when it comes to creativity and ingenuity in promotional campaigns. The 17 competitive categories spotlight the best-executed promotional products campaigns of the year. The competition is open to all PPAI distributor members and regional associations. The submission period extends to July 11. Submit a campaign here. Questions? Contact awards@ppai.org or call 972-258-3070.
PPAI Law
PPAI, Regional Associations To Host L.E.A.D. Local In Pennsylvania
PPAI, in conjunction with the Philadelphia Area Promotional Products Association (PAPPA) and the Three Rivers Advertising Specialty Association (TRASA), will host a Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.) June 17 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This event, called L.E.A.D. Local, is the first of PPAI’s state-level legislative outreach efforts. L.E.A.D. Local is an opportunity to deliver the message of the promotional products industry to state legislators.
Read More L.E.A.D. Local
Product Responsibility
PPAI Product Safety Summit To Kick Off With Product Safety 101
Industry professionals new to the challenges, practices and regulations surrounding product safety issues can get up to speed quickly at this year’s PPAI Product Safety Summit, to be held August 13-14 at The Revere Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
Read More Product Safety Summit
People News
Chocolate Inn/Taylor & Grant (UPIC: CHOCINN) in Freeport, New York, has hired Jaclyn Claude as the supplier’s new customer service/inside sales representative for the Midwest. Claude will be responsible for handling all customer service needs for the entire Midwest territory.
Brett Schaffer, MAS, has been appointed Gaffney, South Carolina, supplier Jetline’s (UPIC: jetline) senior vice president of operations. He brings extensive industry experience to the role, including time as director of operations and manufacturing for Soundline and COO of Points of Light. He served a term on the SAAGNY board of directors and was elected president in 2010. Schaffer is relocating to South Carolina where he will have oversight over several departments including warehouse operations, quality control, fulfillment, shipping and compliance.
Technologo.com (UPIC: TECHNO), a business service provider in Toronto, Ontario, has added a number of new members to its team. Andrew Clarke is the company’s new production editor, while Vic Indrakumar has joined Technologo.com as a business development associate, Shawn M. Litvack as the vice president of sales and Hayley Seidel as marketing coordinator.
Cathy Powers, CAE, has joined PPAChicago as executive director. Powers comes to the regional association with many years of experience working with a local chamber of commerce and, most recently, with a philanthropic organization. She has experience in member benefits, event planning, golf outings, strategic planning, budget management and other aspects of the role.
CleggPromo (UPIC: CLEGG) has brought Pat Kiddoo of KiddooPROMO on to represent the Gardena, California, supplier in the Midwest region, visiting clients Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Accolades
InnerWorkings Creative Services Recognized With Industry Awards
InnerWorkings,Inc. (UPIC: corpedge) has recently received a number of industry awards for its work with disparate brands.
Read More InnerWorkings
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
Spark Your Clients’ Imagination
Give customers something to spark their imagination with Inspire 2014 catalogs. Inspire is a full color, digest-sized printed publication designed specifically for customers. With more than 20 different covers to choose from, you can customize your catalog to best fit your needs. Or, you can even create your own entirely custom cover. Arm your sales team with this cost-effective catalog that will put hundreds of products from top promotional products suppliers in the hands of your customers.
To order Inspire Catalogs or to become a SAGE subscriber, contact SAGE today to find out how to get onboard at no additional charge through the Power of Two relationship, exclusive for PPAI members.
This Month’s PPB
Volunteer Spotlight: Norma Jean Knollenberg, C.I.P., CPIM
This month, PPB’s spotlight on the Association’s volunteers turns its focus to Norma Jean Knollenberg, C.I.P., CPIM. Knollenberg, president of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, supplier Top Brands, Inc., joined the PPAI Board of Directors in December 2013 to fill a vacancy.
Read More Knollenberg
Probe, Don’t Pitch
Rather than pitching their products or services, salespeople and business owners should be asking effective questions to understand their prospects’ challenges and goals. By asking great questions, salespeople create great value in the eyes of their prospects.
Read More Questions
We Come In Fleece
This soft, easy-care fabric is here to stay. See how it’s evolving to fit today’s styles.
Read More Fleece
Contribute To PPAI Publications
Watch This
The era of the gold watch at retirement may be fading, but promotional jewelry and watches is still a mighty industry category. PPB will feature jewelry and watch products in the August issue and asks suppliers to send high-res images, product descriptions and tips for decorating and selling watches and jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, pins and other promotional adornments. Distributors: We want your case studies, sales tips or questions about selling this category. Please email submissions to Tama Underwood by June 13.
Executive Decisions
What’s the best way to reward great leadership? Editor’s Picks in September sizes up executive gifts, so send case studies and tips for C-suite recognition and incentive programs, as well as products that would make great executive gifts, to Jen Alexander by June 20.
From Topsoil To Table
September’s Market to Market looks at the agricultural industry. From ranching to farming to co-ops and extensions, distributors are asked to share case studies and tips for working with clients in the agricultural sector. Suppliers should send large image files of products that fit well in campaigns and programs for these types of clients. Email Jen Alexander by June 20.
What Would You Do?
A Distributor Asks: I like to ask my suppliers to send one or two finished pieces of each order to me so I can keep them. I may use them as samples later or just create an archive of work we’ve done. Is it unreasonable to expect to get these for free?
What's Your Answer? Email answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by June 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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