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INDUSTRY NEWS
Paul Lage To Leave Norwood
Paul Lage, MAS, president of Norwood Promotional Products (UPIC: NORWOOD) says he will leave the Indianapolis, Indiana, supplier on April 15. Lage did not disclose where he will go next, but says he will remain in the industry.
During his three-plus years with the company, Lage was able to turn around the struggling company, which faced poor business practices, a factory flood, a credit crunch and eventual bankruptcy, into a profitable enterprise.
Read more here.
PPAI Influenced Lawmakers In New Healthcare Law For $10 de minimis
Through more than 8,500 letters and countless calls, visits and other points of outreach during the past year, PPAI and its members were ultimately successful in softening the impact on the promotional products industry in the final version of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) signed into law by President Obama last Tuesday.
The new law, which includes elements of what was originally known as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, (PPSA) requires the manufacturers of the covered drugs and products to report items given to covered recipients beginning in 2012.
Read more here.
Century 21 Promotions And Rockland Embroidery Form Alliance
Seattle, Washington, supplier Century 21 Promotions, Inc. (UPIC: CENT0007) has announced an alliance with Rockland Embroidery, Inc. (UPIC: ROCK), a Topton, Pennsylvania, supplier decorator catering specifically to promotional products distributors. Both companies will remain separate entities, but Rockland will be the East Coast point of sales, embroidery and distribution, says Andy Shuman of Rockland Embroidery, Inc.
“Our alliance is basically a sales, warehousing, decorating and distribution partnership,” he says.
The alliance will give Fahrenheit Headwear, a major line of Century 21 Promotions, an increased presence in the eastern U.S. by offering its line decorated by Rockland Embroidery, Inc. In addition to the alliance with Rockland Embroidery, Inc., it will continue to offer blank and custom imported headwear to the promotional industry through its Seattle and Pennsylvania distribution centers.
Andrew Philips Hires PRG Multi-Line For Sales In Canada
Teaneck, New Jersey, supplier Andrew Philips/Millennium Leather, LLC (UPIC: MILL-LEA) has hired PRG Multi-Line to provide independent sales representation in Ontario, Canada, including the Greater Toronto Area.
“PRG Multi-Line is one of the top agencies in Ontario and we are excited to work with them,” says Philip Kahan, chief executive officer of Andrew Philips/Millennium Leather. “They have strong relationships with key distributors in their territory. We believe that this is the single most important factor in growing sales.”
Business in Canada grew by 150 percent, despite the recession, says Donna Kahan, chief operating officer of Andrew Philips/Millennium Leather.
Geiger Upgrades Media Center
Lewiston, Maine, distributor Geiger (UPIC: geiger) upgraded its media center to allow its sales force to send video e-mails with a variety of thematic templates, upload videos and create their own videos via a webcam or other recording devices.
Read more here.
REGIONAL NEWS
RAC’s Leadership Development Workshop Planned For June In Grapevine, Texas
The Regional Association Council’s (RAC) Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) will be held June 23-25 at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas. RAC’s 28 regional associations will convene in a solutions-based environment to network and share ideas that will impact their regional association, board and membership.
New this year to the meeting will be learning labs, which will bring real-world challenges and ideas for feedback and answers. Click here for more information on the LDW.
SPPA Expands Show To Mississippi And Louisiana
Sunbelt Promotional Products Association (SPPA) is expanding its regular fall show in Birmingham, Alabama, by adding shows in Jackson, Mississippi, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the first time. With a marketing campaign titled “Let the Good Times Roll” Traveling Show, the shows will be held September 17 in Birmingham, September 22 in Jackson and September 24 in Baton Rouge.
MiPPA Inducts Kiewiet Into Hall Of Fame
The Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) inducted Paul A. Kiewiet, MAS, into its Hall of Fame at a dinner reception held on March 18 in Novi, Michigan.
Kiewiet founded Kalamazoo, Michigan, distributor Promotion Concepts, Inc. (UPIC: pciaws) in 1982. He sold the company in 2005, but continued service to the industry as a speaker, writer, consultant and serving as PPAI chairman of the board. As chairman, Kiewiet increased the international scope of the Association and raised awareness of socially responsible sourcing and quality initiatives.
Read more here.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Newton Manufacturing Employees Volunteer At IPTV Festival
Fifteen employees of Newton, Iowa-based distributor Newton Manufacturing Company (UPIC: NEWTON) volunteered their time during the Friends of Iowa Public Television’s on-air festival. The group answered phones to take pledges for the annual fund-raising drive. Newton employees have volunteered at the festival for more than five years.
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PPAI NEWS
LEAD Meetings Create Awareness, Build Relationships With Lawmakers
Industry leaders and PPAI staff fanned out across Capitol Hill last week in an organized effort to discuss pending legislation relating to the promotional products industry with 67 offices of the U.S Senate and House.
The first PPAI Legislative Education & Action Day (LEAD) was a success on several levels, says Steve Slagle, CAE, president and CEO of PPAI.
Read more and see the videos here.
John Campbell Joins PPAI As E-Learning Specialist
John Campbell has joined PPAI as e-learning specialist for professional development.
“John brings to PPAI a unique blend of corporate and nonprofit e-learning expertise that will complement PPAI’s suite of professional development products, events and services,” says Melissa Hendrick, director of professional development and business media for PPAI. “We look forward to John helping PPAI deliver new, relevant and compelling educational content via cutting-edge technology solutions to our members.”
Read more here.
PPAI Board Of Directors Application Deadline Wednesday
The PPAI Leadership Advisory Committee is calling for candidates for the PPAI Board of Directors. The slate of nominees will be submitted to the nominating committee in late May. Candidates will be narrowed down to four suppliers and four distributors, with elections taking place in September. Two suppliers and two distributors will be announced as the new directors in early October. Nomination forms can be found here. Send them to Lisa Beck by March 31.
PPAI’s Product And Program Category Survey Deadline Is April 6
The Product and Program Category Survey is critical in order for PPAI to obtain product and program category information for its industry sales volume estimate for 2009. Click here to download the survey, print it out, complete and fax back to PPAI at 972-258-3004 by April 6. All completed surveys and entry forms returned by the deadline, by either mail or fax, will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win an American Express gift card for $200.
April 6 Is Last Chance For Sales To Be Counted
To be as accurate as possible, the PPAI Annual Sales Volume Survey needs your input today. All distributors are requested to complete the survey at www.salesvolumesurvey.com by April 6.
Since 1974 the survey has been the industry’s leading indicator of total promotional products sales. Those who take the survey will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win two round-trip tickets anywhere in the continental U.S. or hotel and round-trip airfare to the PPAI Expo 2011 in Las Vegas. There will be 10 other surprise prizes awarded valued at between $50 and $100.
Post Internship Opportunities On PPAI Facebook
Have a summer or fall internship opportunity available at your company? Post the internship details to the PPAI Facebook page or e-mail them to EricaE@ppai.org and PPAI will repost it to the American Marketing Association’s Marketing Career Network job board. The board is made up of 47 partner organizations, including the Business Marketing Association, American Advertising Federation and the Direct Marketers Association.
PEOPLE NEWS
Tom Carroll has been named client development director of Fort Wayne, Indiana-based distributor Brand Innovation Group, a full-service branding and marketing company. He has more than 25 years of promotional products industry experience in various positions, including multi-line rep and most recently as vice president of marketing and sales with Selco Custom Time (UPIC: SELCO).
Jeanne Hughes has been hired as a sales counselor for Las Vegas, Nevada, suppliers Visstun (UPIC: VISSTUN) and DIGISPEC (UPIC: DIGISPEC). She has 18 years’ experience as a marketing and design director at Hughes, Hunter and Associates.
Teena Risley has been hired by Burnsville, Minnesota, distributor One2One Marketing (UPIC: ONE200001) as an e-commerce specialist. Risley will coordinate One2One-Express!, a new online promotional products store.
ACCOLADES
R.S. Owens Awarded Best Supplier Retail Catalog
The “Elegance in Awards and Gifts” catalog of Chicago, Illinois, supplier R.S. Owens & Co., Inc. (UPIC: RSOWENS) received an award for best supplier retail catalog at this year's Awards and Recognition Association show. The award is determined by a panel of trophy retailers who evaluate supplier catalogs for how well they present the suppliers’ line and enable dealers to merchandise product and ultimately close sales to their customers.
Read more here.
One 2 One Marketing Receives WBE Of The Year
The Women’s Business Development Center – Minnesota recognized Burnsville, Minnesota, distributor One 2 One Marketing (UPIC: ONE200001) and its president, Elaine Grundhauser, as Women’s Business Enterprise of the Year. Since becoming WBE certified in 2006, the company’s revenues have grown more than 50 percent, and in 2009 almost a third of the revenues were generated from customers with diversity initiatives. WBE certification has also been beneficial for One 2 One in increasing business with existing clients such as Smead Manufacturing, HealthPartners and the State of Minnesota.
Grundhauser is being recognized for her contributions to the community, especially in supporting other women business owners. WBDC-Minnesota also recognized Teena Risley, the business development manager and e-commerce specialist for One 2 One Marketing, with the Giving Back Award, for her contributions to the success of the WBDC-MN, its certified WBEs and the women’s business community.
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