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PPB Newslink February 16-2
February 16, 2017
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Top Stories
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PPAI Names Committee And Advisory Group Chairs, Liaisons
PPAI has announced new volunteer committee and advisory group chairs and liaisons for the 2017-2018 term. The PPAI committees and advisory groups are comprised of volunteer representatives from the Association’s membership including distributors, suppliers, business services partners and representatives, who work together to promote, protect and grow the promotional products industry and the Association.
Read more Volunteer Committees
Industry News
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The SBLC Continues Its Look At The Future Of Tax Reform
The latest SBLC Report from the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) returns to the question of what may be ahead for tax reform in the U.S.
Read more SBLC
Consumer Goods Prices Tick Up In December, January
In its Digital Price Index (DPI) for January, Adobe reports that U.S. consumer spending indicated higher than expected inflation for two consecutive months. Prices typically drop in November due to holiday discounts before rebounding. However, prices in December 2016 saw a bigger jump compared to 2015 (0.6 percent versus zero percent) and surpassed pre-holiday levels. This trend continued into January 2017, with prices increasing .05 percent, which resulted in 1.2 percent cumulative inflation for the last three months. This is greater than the 0.9 percent observed during the same period a year ago.
Read more Consumer Goods Prices
Prime Expands Jetline’s South Carolina Facility
Prime Line (PPAI 112744) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at its Jetline (PPAI 113558) plant in Gaffney, South Carolina to mark the facility’s expansion. The event was attended by employees, distributors and members of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.
The company undertook the expansion to stay ahead of demand, as it has added apparel brands Bella+Canvas, Fruit of the Loom, Jerzees and Hanes, alongside existing brands Gildan and Next Level, to the Jetline product line in 2017. The facility now features additional manufacturing and warehouse space and includes upgrades to its silk screen, embroidery and multicolor drinkware areas. Prime moved part of the warehouse offsite and converted it to production for apparel. Overall, the company added about 30 percent to its warehouse and production capacity in South Carolina.
Admints & Zagabor Achieves QCA Accreditation
Supplier Admints & Zagabor (PPAI 227425), a division of Hit Promotional Products (PPAI 113910), has been awarded QCA accreditation by the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), an independent, non-governmental accreditation organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products. Bellmawr, New Jersey-based Admints & Zagabor is a manufacturer of candy, mints, food gifts and personal care items such as lip balm and hand sanitizer.
Read more Admints & Zagabor
OTTO Announces U.S. Territory Representation Plan
Supplier OTTO International, Inc. (PPAI 208720) has announced plans to establish territory representatives across the U.S. focusing on business development and growth. With this new aggressive sales structure, the Ontario, California-based company has established 11 regions nationwide, primarily focusing on nine regions within the contiguous U.S.
David Lever, director of sales for OTTO, who joined the company in April 2016, is leading the plan. He says, “It’s an exciting time at OTTO as we accelerate our three-year growth plan. We see a lot of blue sky opportunities in headwear and thus, OTTO has started the search for business development managers in all territories across the U.S.”
PPAI News
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Registration Opens For PPAI’s Product Responsibility Summit
On September 18-20, PPAI is hosting the seventh annual Product Responsibility Summit (PRS); this year it will be held in Newport Beach, California. An in-depth education conference, PRS will explore the current landscape in supply chain security and social responsibility, and highlight the growing importance of social compliance audits and ethical sourcing and manufacturing practices. Facilitated by industry leaders, Summit will address the ways many industry professionals have turned a cost-burden into a strategic advantage.
This year’s event will be held at the Duke hotel in Newport Beach. Kicking off with an opening dinner on Sunday, September 18, the conference offers two days of insightful education and networking opportunities as well as an optional tour of the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday, September 20. Click here to register.
Love Your Company? Tomorrow Is The Last Day To Nominate It For PPB‘s Greatest Companies To Work For
When you work for one of the industry’s greatest companies, you want to tell everyone about it—right? Here’s your chance. Now through February 17, nominate your company to be considered as one PPB’s Greatest Companies To Work For.
The structure has changed for one of PPB’s most popular and coveted editorial programs recognizing the industry’s Greatest Companies To Work For. Among the changes is that full-time employees working for the nominated companies will need to complete a short survey.
From those survey responses, scores will be tabulated and the 2017 Greatest Companies To Work For will be revealed in PPB’s June issue. All PPAI member companies who meet the requirements may be nominated, even those that have been honored with this recognition in the past. All nominated companies must be current members of PPAI with at least five employees to enter. Find the nomination form, details and requirements here. The deadline for nominations is February 17.
PPAI’s Upcoming Webinars Tackle Industry Issues, Best Practices
This month and next, PPAI’s webinar series explores a wide range of issues important to promotional products industry professionals, including apparel trends and financial best practices, and it takes an in-depth look at PPAI’s industry research resources.
Read more Webinars
PPAI Research
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Promotional Products Meet Consumers’ Priorities
n its 2017 Consumer Study, PPAI found that when asked “What advertising qualities are important to you,” respondents said they look for visually appealing advertisements that have clear messaging and are personally relatable. Promotional products are ideally positioned to meet those needs with their physical and tangible features. For more Get In Touch! tools and tips, click here.
People News
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Akron, New York-based supplier AAkron (PPAI 111082) has brought Charles Cochran (left) on as its new southeast regional sales manager, and promoted Mike Zingale to strategic accounts manager.
Chocolate Inn/Taylor & Grant (PPAI 111662) has named Ryan Schafman its new Midwest regional sales manager. Schafman brings more than nine years of industry experience to the Hicksville, New York, supplier, having previously worked at AIA Corporation. At Chocolate Inn/Taylor & Grant, he will be responsible for working with distributors and prospects in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Charitable Contributions
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BIC Graphic Red Wing Donates $5,500 To Local Sheriff Department
BIC Graphic (PPAI 114187) has donated $5,500 to the Goodhue County Sheriff Department in Red Wing, Minnesota, in support of founding a water rescue and recovery team.
Read more BIC Graphic
SAGE Fact Of The Week
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Five Ways to Make Your Ads More Clickable
Ever wondered how you could increase the ROI for your online ads? Been curious about why certain ads do better than others? Creating the perfect banner ad can be difficult, but when done well, online advertising can drive traffic to your site and boost sales. “But how is it done?” you might ask. Read our five keys to success for having more effective online ads.
PPAI distributor 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
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Cultivating Bigger, Better Sales
Are you ready to start selling your products and services? If you’re nodding your head and thinking “Yes!” this means you’ve thought things through and have started by creating your brand. Then, you identified a budget and put together a marketing plan that includes specific strategies and tactics. You’ve prepped the job and now you’re ready to paint, so to speak.
Read more Better Sales
Grow Your Gift-Giving IQ
The right corporate gift, especially one that is useful, can keep a business top of mind all year long. And now that the U.S. economy has improved, businesses are increasing their gift giving. According to Incentive Magazine’s 2016 Corporate Gift IQ Survey, the number of businesses that reported spending more money on corporate gifts in 2016 than they did in 2015 increased to 27.4 percent from 20.6 percent. They’re giving gifts to fewer recipients but they are giving on more occasions and they’re spending more per recipient, sometimes way more.
Read more Business Gifts
Wearable ‘Wow’
Just as a sprig of mint and a slice of cucumber turn an average glass of water into something spa-worthy, the items we choose to embellish an outfit can turn heads. It’s often the little things such as a colorful tote or an interesting piece of jewelry or a fun tie that catches people’s attention. That extra garnish of the right accessory is the ‘wow’ factor that adds serious promotional power. And the more an accessory can do for the wearer, the better.
Read more Accessories
Contribute To PPAI Publications
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Tout Your Technology
May’s PPB magazine is featuring wearable technology and high-tech promotional products and we want to feature your products and your marketing campaigns! Suppliers, please submit product descriptions and high-res photos. Distributors, please submit case studies with high-res photos for marketing campaigns where you’ve included wearable technology or tech products. Submissions are due by March 1.
Lifelong Learning
May PPB examines the education market. Distributors, please send case studies of programs and promotions you’ve crafted for K-12, university, professional development or on-the-job training. Suppliers, please send high-res images and descriptions of products that are ideal for this market. Send submissions by March 6.
A Distributor Asks: I’m thinking about adding a college intern this summer but I’m unsure of how to structure the set up. For those distributors who have had interns, do you pay your interns or do you work with their school to provide credit? Do you have them sign a confidentiality agreement and/or non-compete agreement? What types of tasks do you have them do? Is there anything else I should consider to make sure it’s a successful experience for both parties?
Email your answer along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by March 1 for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue of
PPB
magazine.
Need peer advice? Send your question to Question@ppai.org.
Read the answers to each month’s question here.
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