Leed's Closing Ohio Manufacturing Facility
New Kensington, Pennsylvania-based supplier Leed's (UPIC: leeds) announced last week it will close its Warren, Ohio, facility on April 27, eliminating 81 positions there.

Leed’s began leasing the 256,000 square-foot facility in August 2006 to serve as an overflow warehouse and production facility for its headquarters, though David Nicholson, Leed's president, says the vast majority of the work has remained in New Kensington.

Click here to read more.

When A Mug Is More Than A Mug:
Staying Unique In Promotional Products
Henry Ford is famous for telling customers they could order his Model T automobile in any color, so long as it was black. In the promotional products world, customers have access to a broader spectrum. But just as a new color doesn’t make one Model T different from another, a coffee mug in blue, purple, neon green or metallic silver is still a coffee mug.

So how do suppliers maintain a distinctive presence in the industry? The short answer might be: by design. New product design may be as complex as introducing a truly unique, never-before-seen product or as simple as taking something familiar and making it new by form or function. Be warned, though -- not every new idea sells in every market.

Visit PPB online to read more.

How To Sell Your Clients On Advertising During A Recession
The game is changing in media sales, and promotional products distributors are scrambling to find new sales methods that resonate with cash-strapped end buyers. Read PPB’s latest internet exclusive, “Keeping Advertising Up In A Down Economy,” to learn why advertising during a recession is crucial and get tips from other distributors on what they’re doing to drive home the message that promotional products are an important part of the recession-advertising mix.

Commotion Promotions Opens
Another Regional Office
Phoenix, Arizona-based distributor Commotion Promotions, Ltd. (UPIC: IDEASTAR) has opened its sixth regional office in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shannon Nelson will serve as the regional manager.

Office Beacon Partners
With Technologo
Redondo Beach, California-based business services provider Office Beacon LLC (UPIC: beacon) has signed an agreement with Toronto, Ontario-based business services provider Technologo (UPIC: TECHNO) to become an official reseller of its software products.

“We believe that this strategic alliance with Technologo further strengthens Office Beacon’s position in the marketplace,” says Pranav Dalal, Office Beacon president and CEO.

Selco Partners With
Luxury Watch Brand
Tulsa, Oklahoma-based supplier SELCO LLC (UPIC: SELCO) has entered into a representative agreement with Père de Temps, a luxury brand of automatic mechanical watches with European design, to distribute and sell the Père de Temps watch line.

“The addition of these beautifully crafted watches to our line increases the range of product that our clients can select from us while remaining within our scope of expertise,” says Mark Abels, president of Selco. The mechanical watch line consists of 18 hand-assembled automatic jeweled watches for men and women. All styles can be customized.

Get More Information On CPSIA With An STR Webinar
Specialized Technology Resources (STR), PPAI’s partner testing facility, will host the free webinar “CPSIA -- As It Stands Today” at 11:30 am Thursday, March 5, to review key rulings and enforcement policy decisions that have occurred since the law was passed last August.

Producers, importers and distributors of consumer products are urged to attend the hour-long session. Click here for more information and to register to attend.

PC Academy Helps You Meet Clients’ Needs
Today’s clients demand more from their promotional consultants -- more information, innovation, options, opportunities. To give your clients what they need, you’ll want to attend PPAI’s Promotional Consultant Academy & Learning Lab, March 21-23 in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Featuring one of the industry’s most highly-sought speakers, Cliff Quicksell, Jr., MAS, PC Academy will help boost your consulting skills and elevate your business to a higher level. Space is limited, so register now.

Submit Your Presentations Now
For The PPAI Expo 2010
PPAI’s professional development team wants you to bolster the industry’s cache of knowledgeable presenters who will be providing workshops at The PPAI Expo 2010 in Las Vegas. Submit your proposal by March 13 and become one of the industry’s experts.

All submissions are reviewed and evaluated by members of the PPAI Professional Development Committee. Applicants will be notified of selection results on June 15, and handouts will be due November 20.

To submit your proposal, review the Call for Presentations overview and complete the online submission form by March 13. For additional information, contact Kip Eads, CAE, professional development manager, at KipE@ppai.org or 972-258-3030.

Make Your Customer Service Stand Out With A PPAI Workshop
Customer service is the last benefit that should be cut when times are tough in business, according to an article in Inc. magazine.

PPAI gives you a way to boost your customer service benefits through its “Principles Of Award-Winning Customer Service & Best Practices” workshop, to be held April 21 in Houston, Texas.

Featured speaker Bob Barker will help customer service reps, sales personnel, managers and key company decision makers hone the skills necessary to maintain a superior relationship with customers.

This daylong seminar is just $99 for members and $300 for nonmembers who register by April 3. For more information, contact Professional Development Manager Margie Lindley at MargieL@ppai.org, 888-426-7724 (ext. 3025) or 972-258-3025.

Slagle Speaks At Promotional Products Show In Mexico
PPAI President and CEO Steve Slagle, CAE, traveled south of the border for the Expo Promotional Product Show, sponsored by the Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales de la Promoción (AMPPRO), February 18-20 at Mexico City’s World Trade Center.

The show proved to be a success despite the effects of the U.S. recession on Mexico’s economy. On February 18, Slagle delivered the keynote presentation titled, “How to Sell More Promotional Products in Times of a Recession.” The presentation drew heavily from PPAI members’ advice and recommendations in articles written for PPB and Promotional Consultant magazines in the past two months.

“While it was a small tradeshow with about 80 exhibiting companies, more than 4,000 visitors attended,” says Slagle. “Distributors invited their key end-buyer clients to attend, so the show was actually very busy with so many attendees.”

Read more about Slagle’s visit at PPB online.

New Mexico Shuts Down
Gift Disclosure Bill
New Mexico Sen. Dede Feldman’s proposal that drug companies be required to report to the attorney general the gifts they give to health providers has been rejected by the state senate. The measure was defeated last Monday, with 16 lawmakers voting for it and 24 against it.

The Democratic senator from Albuquerque said she felt that a database “of gifts of more than $100 from drug and medical equipment manufacturers to individual providers -- and to those making institutional decisions about what drugs to buy -- could be helpful to consumers” but critics of the bill said it was one more effort to punish the pharmaceutical industry.

John Kerry Proposes Incentives Ban For Bailout Recipients
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has proposed banning organizations that received bailout funds under TARP from hosting or sponsoring events or other incentives without first getting permission from the U.S. Treasury Department.

The Manage Smarter article from last week notes that Kerry’s proposal includes a provision requiring the CEO to reimburse the Treasury the cost of the event, plus pay a fine of up to $100,000, for breaking the regulations.

Stimulus Law Spells Out New Rules For COBRA
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) contains a number of provisions that affect COBRA, the federal policy that allows workers and their families to continue group healthcare benefits for a limited period of time under certain circumstances.

One of the most significant elements for the promotional products industry concerns the 65 percent subsidy the government offers certain eligible COBRA participants who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.

This subsidy is advanced by the employer or plan sponsor, then reimbursed as a credit against payroll tax submissions. The subsidy is available to eligible individuals for up to nine months.

Key steps an employer should take under the new provisions are to determine all eligible employees who should receive notice, and to implement policies to ensure compliance with the new provisions.

Speak Out On Iowa Gift Ban Bill
Iowa State Sen. Jack Hatch introduced bill SF-48 last month to prohibit pharmaceutical and medical device firms that participate in state health programs from offering any gifts to healthcare practitioners.

While there have often been discussions on banning pharmaceutical gifts that are not relevant to patient treatment or office operations, the wording on this legislation calls for an outright ban of anything of any value. It is important to take action now and let your representatives know that you oppose this bill in its current form.

You can access a list of Iowa lawmakers by visiting www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/. Use this letter to mail, fax and e-mail your legislators, and let PPAI know what response, if any, you receive.

Give Your Input
On Tracking Label Requirements
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) still seeks comments on section 103 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), Tracking Labels for Children’s Products.

Under the terms of this law, effective August 14, section 103 of the CPSIA requires, to the extent practicable, the placement of permanent, distinguishing marks on children’s products and packaging to enable both the manufacturer and the ultimate purchaser to ascertain the specific source of the product by reference to those marks.

As with other elements of the CPSIA, whatever is found to be good for children's products may also be deemed desirable for all consumer products and, by extension, promotional products. Member perspectives are requested concerning the manner in which tracking labels may be practical, what processes might be realistic and the overall value of using tracking labels.

Please send comments and information to Anne Lardner by e-mail or by phone at 972-258-3041 no later than Thursday, March 5. Staff will compile all comments and information and forward them to the Office of the Secretary for the CPSC.

Express Your Views On
The Physicians’ Sunshine Act
PPAI is asking members to voice their thoughts on the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, (S.301), introduced by U.S. Sens. Herb Kohl, D-Wisconsin, and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. The act requires the manufacturers of covered drugs, devices or medical supplies under Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to make transparency reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services of payments to physicians, including any promotional products provided to them.

S.301 requires disclosure of payments or any other “transfer of value,” which refers to a transfer of any item of value. While there is now a $100 annual aggregate de minimis payment threshold, the previous version had a specific de minimis individual payment threshold; specifically “a transfer of anything of value that exceeds $25.”

PPAI has provided a letter for members to send to their respective U.S. senators to express their thoughts on this bill. Members are encouraged to first contact their senators in Congress by phone at 202-224-3121, then follow up with an e-mail. Addresses can be found at www.senate.gov.

Cap America Managers Trade Jobs
Fredericktown, Missouri-based supplier Cap America (UPIC: CAPAMRCA) has announced that managers Teri Langston and Sarah Page have switched positions. Langston is now the overseas department manager and Page is the customer service manager.

“By switching responsibilities, Page will educate the customer service department of the overseas capabilities, and Langston will bring her valuable talent as a team leader to the overseas department,” says Bruce Watson, president and COO.

Ennis Promotes Boore To General Manager
Midlothian, Texas-based supplier Ennis, Inc. (UPIC: ENNIS) has promoted Mark Boore to general manager of its facility in Fort Scott, Kansas. Boore joined Ennis in 1998 as a press operator and was then promoted to plant superintendent. He takes over for Steve Kelso, who retired after more than 45 years with Ennis.

Noteworthy Promotes Majewski
To VP Of Sales
Amsterdam, New York-based supplier Noteworthy (UPIC: NWORTHY) has named Chad Majewski vice president of sales. He was most recently regional sales manager for the company. As VP of sales, he helps Noteworthy provide the best possible customer experience for all distributors.

Winning Edge Hires Blake, Lenger
Maple Plain, Minnesota-based supplier Winning Edge, Inc. has hired Gordon Blake and Doug Lenger of Big River Marketing as multi-line reps for Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Nebraska; North Dakota; Ohio and South Dakota.

BrandKiwi’s Kiewiet
Quoted In IMRA Review
Paul Kiewiet, MAS, CIP, president of Kalamazoo, Michigan-based business services provider BrandKiwi, An Affiliate Of Mercury Promotions And Fulfillment (UPIC: kiwi), contributed to an online review of the Incentive Manufacturers & Representatives Alliance (IMRA) Conference in San Diego.

Kiewiet, former PPAI Board chairman, says in the review that a survey he conducted among college students noted the impact of imprinted promo items. “They couldn’t recall any traditional advertising they had seen, but they not only recalled a recent promotional product they’d received, they had a meaningful story attached to it.”

TRG Group’s Product Featured
On Network Television
Soren Travel Gear, a division of St. Louis, Missouri-based TRG Group (UPIC: TRG), received exposure when its Cape Cod Reversible Tote was featured in the January 15 episode of ABC’s “Private Practice”.

Howard Miller Honors Sales Reps
Zeeland, Michigan-based supplier Howard Miller Co. (UPIC: clocks) announced the recipients of its 2008 sales representative awards during the week of The PPAI Expo 2009, held in January in Las Vegas. The awards and recipients are:

-Sales Rep Of The Year: Adelle Weeks
-Top Trophy Sales Award: Gil Cabble
-Top New Account Award: Adelle Weeks
-Top Hekman/WoodMark Sales Award: Michele Jennrich, MAS

Distributors also were honored with 2008 Special Markets Distributor of the Year awards for each of the regional sales territories.The achievement awards recognize these distributors for the best overall sales increase in 2008:

Columbus, Ohio-based Relay Gear Ltd. (UPIC: Relay009)
St. Louis, Missouri-based Lipic’s, Inc. (UPIC: LIPICS)
Danvers, Massachusetts-based Tournament Solutions LLC
Litchfield, Connecticut-based M. LaHart Company
Fort Worth, Texas-based Diamond H Recognition (UPIC: DIAM0001)
Tucker, Georgia-based Eagle Recognition Company
Irvine, California-based Vail Dunlap & Associates (UPIC: vail)

iPROMOTEu Honors
Reliable Marketing Services
Wayland, Massachusetts-based distributor iPROMOTEu (UPIC: IPRO9320) has named Northville, Michigan-based distributor Reliable Marketing Services its No. 1 affiliate in terms of total annual sales for 2008.

“Owners John Doering and Larry Stock worked very hard and, as a result, enjoyed tremendous success in 2008. They are true professionals and are most deserving of this honor and recognition,” says Ross Silverstein, president and CEO.

Maple Ridge Receives
Identity Marketing Honor
Mosinee, Wisconsin-based supplier Maple Ridge Farms (UPIC: MAPLE) received the most votes for the popular Food & Beverage category in Identity Marketing magazine’s first-ever Reader’s Choice awards.

“It is gratifying to know that the efforts of all our employees and our company-wide commitment to our customers are being recognized in such major ways,” says Tom Riordan, CEO. “Our thanks go out to our loyal customers.”

See the latest in health and beauty products and hear more industry news on this week's Industry Show.

Selling Green
Distributors: Promotional Consultant is looking for distributors who have created a niche for themselves by selling green products. If the majority of your sales come from green products, e-mail Lisa Horn by 5 pm Wednesday, March 4, and you may be contacted for an interview.

Food And Cooking Gifts Galore
Get ready to devour some new ideas in the April issue of Promotional Consultant magazine, which is loaded with food gifts, glassware, pots, pans, utensils and culinary accessories. Suppliers, what new dining-related products are you cooking up? March 6 is the deadline to send product descriptions and high-resolution images to Audrey Sellers for possible inclusion.

How To Handle A Change In Ownership
If you are the proud new owner of what was once someone else’s company, how did you ease the employees and the organization into the transition? If you are the employee of a company that has changed hands, what did you like and/or dislike about the change? E-mail your story to Jen Alexander by March 9 for possible inclusion in an upcoming PPB Newslink story.

It’s All Fun And Games
The June issue of PPB magazine is dedicated to the best products for clowning around -- board games, hula hoops and toys to travel games, puzzles and yo-yos. Send your product descriptions and high-resolution images to Audrey Sellers by March 20 for possible inclusion.

Clothes For Kiddos
The June issue of PPB magazine offers up a kid-friendly collection of apparel for infants, toddlers, kids and tweens, including t-shirts, headwear, shorts, skirts, dresses, sweaters and jackets. Just send apparel descriptions and high-resolution images to Audrey Sellers for consideration. March 20 is the submission deadline.

Diamonds In The Economic Rough
Have you spotted opportunites in new markets lately? Are you noticing sales of certain products picking up in a particular industry? If your clients are in industries and job fields that continue to grow despite the economy, share your story for possible inclusion in an upcoming PPB article. E-mail Jen Alexander by March 26.

Washington Report
The new stimulus law provides targeting money for several loan programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Generally speaking, SBA programs do not offer terms as favorable as can be found in the private sector, but these are not normal times. The law will help banks provide relatively small, short-term loans to small business borrowers experiencing immediate financial hardship.

Data Sentry
What’s in your file cabinet right now? Tax records? Payroll information? And what’s on your computer system? Financial data from your suppliers? Credit card numbers from your customers? To a busy marketer, those documents are an everyday part of doing business. But in the hands of an identity thief, they’re tools for draining bank accounts, opening bogus lines of credit and going on the shopping spree of a lifetime—at the expense of your company, your employees and the customers who trust you.

Now Hiring?
Recruiting. If you are like most business owners this word strikes fear and loathing all the way through the soles of your feet. It can be time consuming, difficult and even costly in many ways. So let’s help by providing a few tips on where to go and how to accomplish this chore a little easier. After all, you want the right recruit, not just a seat warmer.

A distributor asks: How do you use samples during a sales presentation? Do you bring exactly what the client asked for and nothing else? Or do you bring several different options and include multiple price points for each?

What's your answer? E-mail answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by March 27 for possible inclusion in the June 2009 issue of PPB magazine.