• • • • • • March 3 • 2015
SEND NEWS TO JAMESK@PPAI.ORG • • • • • •
Top News
PPAI Responds To Criticism Of Government Spending On Promotional Products
On February 22, The Oklahoman editorial board published an op-ed on wasteful government spending on promotional products. PPAI responded in a letter to the newspaper, supporting responsible spending and the effective use of promotional products to promote essential government programs.
Read More Government Spending
Industry News
Gemini Industries Acquires Anchor Line
Gemini Industries, Inc. (UPIC: GEMI0001) has completed its acquisition of Anchor Line (UPIC: ANCHOR) from Mocap, LLC. The supplier is transferring Anchor Line’s operations to its facility in Roxana, Illinois, and expects a smooth transition. Effective immediately, all orders and correspondence regarding Anchor Line should be sent to office@geminiline.net or to 1 Gemini Industrial Drive, Roxana, Illinois 62084. Gemini Industries can be reached at 800-489-4722, 618-251-3352 or 618-251-4740 (fax).
Vitronic USA Receives QCA Accreditation
Supplier Vitronic USA (UPIC: ACHIEVER), headquartered in Commerce, Ohio, has been granted QCA accreditation by the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products.
Read More Vitronic USA
Full Circle Promos To Host Reopening Celebration
Full Circle Promos (UPIC: F519894), a distributor based in New Milford, Connecticut, is holding a grand reopening ceremony for its new offices on Thursday. Full Circle’s new facility on 103 Danbury Road features a larger production space and showroom, and the ceremony will include a ribbon cutting, tours, refreshments and a visit with staff.
PPAI News
PPAI Now Accepting 2015 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
The Power Of Two Brings The Party To Expo East
On March 14, Expo East’s Power Of Two Party brings out attendees and exhibitors, the movers and the shakers to Dusk Night Club at Caesars. The 10,000 square-foot, multi-level club features an electrifying light show and some of Atlantic City’s top DJs. Running 7:30 – 10:30 pm, the evening offers an open bar, DJs and dancing. Tickets are $25/person and the dress code is fashionably casual.
Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
PPAI Opens Call For Expo, Expo East And Webinar Speakers
PPAI is looking for inspiring, dynamic speakers and industry leaders to share their knowledge, expertise and original content proposals for the Association’s upcoming events and webinars. PPAI wants to hear from industry professionals who think outside the box, have new ideas or topics, or a new twist on a standard practice. Interested parties can submit their presentations for:
The PPAI Expo 2016 – Deadline for submission is Friday, March 13, 2015.
Expo East 2016 – Deadline for submission is Tuesday, April 28, 2015.
Online Webinars – submissions reviewed monthly and can be submitted throughout the year.
Quality education is important for all industry professionals. Click here to submit a presentation.
Nominate Your Company For Recognition In
PPB
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 close at midnight CDT on March 10, 2014. Companies nominated must be current members of PPAI and previous winners cannot be nominated again. Congratulations to these
previous honorees.
Click here for the nomination form.
PPAI’s Webinar Series Examines Corporate Responsibility And More
PPAI’s online education schedule accelerates in the coming months, with sessions exploring the many aspects of corporate responsibility, and nurturing the right mindset to reach professional goals, among other subjects.
Read More Webinars
PPAI Law
PPAI Urges Industry To Support GSP Renewal And Updates
PPAI is lending its support to the renewal and update of the U.S. General System of Preferences (GSP), a program that allows duty-free access to the U.S. market for products from developing and least-developed countries in order to facilitate global competition and to improve consumer choice in the U.S. Legal authorization of the GSP program expired on July 31, 2013, and Congress is considering legislation that would further extend the authorization of GSP.
Read More GSP Renewal
Product Responsibility
Mark Your Calendar For The 2015 PPAI Product Safety Summit
Registration is now open for the 2015 PPAI Product Safety Summit, September 28-30 in Bethesda, Maryland. The Summit brings business and compliance leaders from across the industry to discuss product safety issues and the business implications and challenges they face.
The Summit offers two days of education featuring distinguished speakers, industry thought leaders and representatives from product safety labs and product certification groups. All Summit attendees will also receive a binder containing best practices, testing protocols and recall resource materials.
Click here for more information and to register.
People News
Richmond, Virginia-based distributor NewClients Promotional Marketing (UPIC: clients) has expanded into four new markets with new hires and transferred personnel. Senior Account Manager Michelle Hurtienne has managed a corporate client base internally at NewClients for the past four years and recently transferred to Atlanta, Georgia, to expand the company’s offerings in the state. Senior Brand Consultant Khalil Hamzeh, a 20-year promotional products veteran, joins NewClients in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, area. Wilmington, North Carolina, native Allison Sisson has joined the company as a senior brand consultant for her home market, and for financial services clients across the country. In Nashville, Tennessee, Senior Brand Consultant Amber Reese brings six years of industry experience to her role.
Stromberg Brand (UPIC: 1ASTRMBG) has hired
Lisa Bennett to represent the Valley Cottage, New York-based supplier in Illinois and Wisconsin. Bennett was named one of
PPB’s Best Multi-Line Reps in 2014 and currently serves on the PPAI L.E.A.D. committee.
Regional News
HPPA Kicks Off 2015 With New Logo
As part of its goal to begin 2015 with a new attitude, the Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) has introduced a new logo.
Read More HPPA
Accolades
American Solutions For Business Recognized By Local Chamber Of Commerce
American Solutions for Business (UPIC: AMER0005) was recognized February 25 by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce at its annual Business Awards. Held at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia, the Glenwood, Minnesota-based distributor, which has sales associates in the area, was named Micro Business of the Year.
In its recognition of American Solutions for Business, the Chamber said, “American Solutions for Business works diligently to enhance productivity and to increase creativity, while reducing client costs through their product offering of promotional products, printed documents, office supplies, e-commerce and marketing solutions.”
SAGE FACT OF THE WEEK
Four Ways To Use Catalogs To Increase Sales
Print catalogs are no longer just direct-selling tools. They drive web and store traffic, are a channel between technologies and, perhaps most important, build brand awareness. In fact, 86 percent of people say they have bought a product after first seeing it in a catalog. Click here to learn four ways you can use catalogs to drive your sales.
PPAI members can join SAGE at no additional cost through the Power of Two relationship. Contact SAGE today at 800-925-7243 or visit www.sageworld.com to get started.
This Month’s PPB
Silent Partner, Vocal Supporter
For many distributors, sales gets all the glory in the business. But Amanda Corey, MAS, has found she shines best when she can help others manage the day-to-day tasks, leaving her industry clients to focus on what they love most about their own businesses.
Read More Corey
Blast From The Past
The close of 2014 brought a number of significant changes to the transportation regulations related to lithium-ion batteries and, in particular, lithium-ion power banks.
Read More Lithium-Ion
Bizwords: Milkshake Marketing
The milkshake marketing theory suggests consumers don’t actually buy goods based on their age, education level or other market segment. Rather, customers “hire” goods according to the jobs they need done. Clayton M. Christensen, the Harvard Business School professor who coined the term, says evaluating products based on function originates from a company’s competitors or employees, whereas milkshake marketing is based on customers’ points of view.
Read More Milkshake
Contribute To PPAI Publications
Carry Away Clients
Editor’s Picks in May focuses on bags of all forms and functions. Send high-res images and descriptions of your top sellers and fan favorites, including classic styles and of-the-moment designs, to Jen Alexander by March 12.
Creative Collaboration
Artists, designers, photographers and writers need promotions as creative and visionary as the works they produce. Market to Market in May examines the creative services industry; if you have clients in this field and case studies showing how promotional products boosted their business, contact Jen Alexander by March 12. Suppliers, send high-res images and descriptions of products that complement creative services business programs and campaigns.
Who Wants Hoodies And Sweatshirts?
Answer: Everyone. PPB is exploring these promo staples in the May issue. Suppliers: Please submit high-res images and product descriptions of sweatshirts and hoodies for possible inclusion. Distributors: Please submit decoration tips, case studies and questions or tips about this category. Send all materials to Tama Underwood by March 13.
A Distributor Asks: One of our distributor salespeople was previously with one of our competitors. While with our competitor, they submitted artwork to a supplier for an order. After joining our company, they received another order with the same artwork. Who owns the artwork after an order has been placed and paid for, the end customer or the distributor?
What’s Your Answer? Email answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by March 13 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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