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PPB Newslink February 9-2
February 9, 2017
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Top Stories
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HALO Makes Second Acquisition This Month; Acquires Michael C. Fina Recognition
As first reported in a Breaking News on Wednesday, HALO Branded Solutions (PPAI 106462) has acquired New York City-based Michael C. Fina Recognition, a third-generation leader in the recognition and incentives industry. The acquisition is the second in the past week for HALO; the company acquired Catalyst Marketing, Inc. on February 1.
Read more HALO
Industry News
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Northeast Snowstorm Causes Closures Today
A snowstorm is forecast for the New York City area, northern New Jersey and coastal Connecticut today and is expected to drop eight to 12 inches or more of snow. Along with school closings, some promotional products companies in the region are closed today as well.
Read more Snowstorm
HanesBrands Financial Results Show Strong Sales For 2016
HanesBrands has announced its fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 financial results, and its initial financial guidance for 2017. For this year, the Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based company is forecasting high-single-digit growth expectations for net sales, record cash flow from operations and growth for its operating profit and earnings. HanesBrands participates in the promotional products industry as supplier Hanes/Champion (PPAI 191138).
Read more HanesBrands
BIC Group Releases Strategic Review Status Update
The BIC Group has released a status update on its strategic review initiated in February 2016 for BIC Graphic, its advertising and promotional products segment.
After a review of the business, the company’s BIC Graphic Europe operations will report to its European BIC Consumer Products business. BIC Graphic Europe staff have also been directed to implement a plan that establishes a sustainable business model and develops innovative services, while maintaining its imprinting and decorating expertise. BIC Graphic operations in developing markets that have a sustainable business model will also report to the BIC Group’s local consumer business.
Discussions are still ongoing regarding BIC Graphic North America and the Asia Sourcing operation’s strategic alternatives. The outcome of these discussions is expected in the coming weeks.
Super Bowl 51 Generates Big Money, Conversation
The New England Patriots weren’t the only winners on Sunday night. Super Bowl 51 generated $432.4 million in national advertising sales and more than $500 million in total day national television advertising for Fox, reports to iSpot.tv, and those numbers beat expectations.
Read more Super Bowl
Early 2017 Job Growth Expected To Be Strong
Employment picked up in January, after easing slightly in December. The Conference Board’s Employment Trends Index increased last month to 130.04, up from 129.73 in December. January’s figure represents a 2.4-percent gain in the index compared to a year ago.
Read more Employment
PPAI News
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PPAI’s Barnett Joins PPAS For Young Professionals Discussion
On Tuesday, PPAI Diversity Development and Engagement Manager Seth Barnett joined the Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) to facilitate a young professional panel discussion. The event also included a tabletop show and luncheon.
Read more Young Professionals
WLC Early-bird Registration Ends February 17
Early-bird registration for the 2017 Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) closes in less than two weeks. Scheduled for June 26-28 in Scottsdale, Arizona, WLC has sold out for the past several years. WLC offers attendees world-class education sessions combined with exceptional networking opportunities and the perfect setting to expand their business network. Industry professionals who register by February 17 save $165. PPAI members: $795, regularly $950; nonmembers: $1,095, regularly $1,250. For questions regarding registration, contact Stacy Riddler at stacyr@ppai.org.
Early-Bird Rate Now Available For NALC
PPAI’s North American Leadership Conference (NALC), the premier event for leaders from across the promotional products industry, is coming to Austin, Texas, August 13-15. Early-bird rates are now available for the event, which draws a strong network of industry executives to explore and participate in top-of-mind high-level business discussions tackling the industry’s biggest challenges including economic issues, political issues, competitive issues, as well as technological and leadership challenges. Attendees can save $300 when they register by April 8. PPAI members: $2,195, regularly $2,495; nonmembers: $2,695, regularly $2,995. For questions regarding registration, contact Stacy Riddler at stacyr@ppai.org. To see a curriculum sample, the 2016 schedule is available here.
PPAI Is Looking For A Few Good Presentation Ideas
PPAI strives to create a professional development program that meets the variety of skill and interest levels of the industry’s practitioners. To achieve this, PPAI is looking for dynamic presentations that challenge the Association’s thinking and push the promotional products industry forward and inform industry leaders about proven practices and motivating the pursuit of excellence. Professionals with interesting presentation ideas are invited to submit an application to PPAI’s Call For Presentations. Calls for The PPAI Expo 2018 are currently open through February 25. Notices of selection will be sent out by June 30.
Nominate Your Company In PPB’s Greatest Companies Search
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
PPAI’s webinar series in February and March explores a range of issues important to promotional products industry professionals, including apparel trends, financing best practices, and more.
Read more Webinars
PPAI Law
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PPAI Lends Its Support To Fair Port Practices Petition
PPAI has reached out to the Federal Maritime Commission regarding its support of a petition for rulemaking from the Coalition for Fair Port Practices. On December 28, the commission published a notice in the Federal Register concerning the petition, which would help bring about more reasonable demurrage and detention practices for cargo moving through U.S. seaports. In its letter to the commission, PPAI urges it to begin a formal rulemaking on the matter as soon as possible.
Read more Ports
People News
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Goldstar (PPAI 114031) has hired Alicia Dierking as its southwestern regional sales manager. She will cover Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas for the San Diego, California-based supplier. Dierking’s background in the promotional products industry includes experience as a supplier in both hard and soft goods, and managing territories for Gill Studios and Vantage Apparel.
Accolades
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Facilisgroup Names Leed’s Its 2016 Supplier Of The Year
Leed’s (PPAI 112361) was named 2016 Supplier of the Year by Facilisgroup (PPAI 493664), a management consulting and technology services group for promotional products distributors. The award was presented when Facilisgroup partners and suppliers met in Las Vegas during The PPAI Expo for their 2017 Winter Summit.
Read more Leed’s
SAGE Fact Of The Week
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Everything You Need to Know About Warehousing Inventory
If there’s one thing that will make you quickly lose a customer, it’s failing to deliver what you promise or when you promise. On the flip side, good inventory management will help you build trust with your customers and increase your level of business.
We reached out to Chris Manfredini, President of Mavich Branding Group (MBG) to share the basics of what a fulfillment house does, how to know when you need one, and tips to choose the right one for you. Read everything you need to know about warehousing inventory on the SAGE blog now.
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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Service Before Product: A New Approach
Have you ever wondered where marketing came from, or where it’s going? To understand something we must always understand first where it came from. Then we might have a better chance at predicting where it is going.
Read more Service
Print Ad Design Advice From The Pros
A Distributor Asks: I have been faced with the same problem over and over for the past 10 years: How do you design the perfect “professional” ad for print media? I think we all do a great job at interactive and social media, but it is very difficult to come up with a truly classy magazine ad or flyer. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Read more Print Ads
New Game Plan
Joe Loch is the kind of man who doesn’t back down from a challenge—even when that challenge involves coaching a girls’ lacrosse team, a group no one in his Ohio town knew how to coach, including Loch.
Read more Loch
Contribute To PPAI Publications
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Posh Pastimes
In April’s PPB Eye On Apparel will showcase country club sports—think tennis, golf and swim attire. Suppliers, please submit high-resolution product images and product descriptions. Distributors, please send marketing case studies for some recent successful promotions. Submissions are due by February 10.
Professional Aspirations
April PPB’s Market to Market focuses on how professional organizations and associations use promotional products. Distributors, please send case studies of how clients in this market have used promotional marketing for member recruitment and retention, thank-you gifts and leave-behinds, and recognition programs. Suppliers, please submit product images and descriptions that work well for professional organizations and associations. Please send submissions by February 10.
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.
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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