Dunbrooke, Reebok-CCM Hockey, Inc. Partner To Sell NHL Goods
Independence, Missouri-based supplier Dunbrooke Apparel Corp. (UPIC: DUNBROOK) has been granted exclusive rights by Reebok-CCM Hockey, Inc. and the National Hockey League to manufacture and distribute a line of workwear jackets featuring NHL team logos in the retail market.

"This agreement is part of a continuing Dunbrooke brand strategy set forth two years ago to promote the Dunbrooke brand at the retail level," says Matt Gray, COO of Dunbrooke. "This in turn helps us to promote our brand and high-quality jacket line within our core promotional products distribution channel."

Integrus Joins BrandAlliance In Canada
Mississauga, Ontario-based distributor Integrus Brand Solutions Inc. (UPIC: Integ328) has become the sixth member of Toronto, Ontario-based promotional marketing group BrandAlliance. The organization is dedicated to acquiring one member distributor in each geographical area of Canada in order to help provide a total solution to corporate clients on a national scale.

"We are delighted to be joining BrandAlliance," says Upkar Arora, chairman of Integrus. "A partnership will allow us to accelerate the achievement of our vision to be the leading provider of promotional merchandise and associated services in Canada."

Alan Chippindale, BrandAlliance CEO, says, "We are making great continuous progress with its strategic plan and increasing execution on building the strongest sales and marketing distributor organization in Canada."

Staples Promotional Products Eliminating Jobs In Iowa
Overland Park, Kansas-based distributor Staples Promotional Products (UPIC: AMER0016) has announced that workers whose jobs are being eliminated at two plants in Hawarden and Marcus, Iowa, will be able to apply for open positions at a Staples location in Orange City, Iowa.

The 45 affected employees also will receive a severance package, according to a broadcast news story that aired last week in Iowa. The cuts came as a result of economic conditions, says Staples Inc. spokesperson Owen Davis.

"Staples is doing all it can to assist associates in this time of significant change," says Davis. "And, in these tough times, Staples is committed to providing the best customer service."

U.S. Branding Group
Partners With U.K. Firm
Greenacres, Florida-based supplier The U.S. Branding Group, LLC (UPIC: USBRAND), has partnered with Suffolk, England-based distributor Speedbird Promotions (UPIC: Speedbir). Speedbird Promotions develops technology-driven promotional products for the U.K. transportation industry.

"As we have taken a leadership role in developing innovative and creative technology driven promotional products for North America, it makes sense for us to partner up with a European-based supplier/manufacturer that is equally innovative and technology-driven when it comes to providing the latest breakthroughs and innovations for the next generation of promotional products buyers," says Rich Butler, president of The USB Group.

PPAI Shares Thoughts On CPSIA With D.C. Commission
In response to a request for comments and information regarding tracking labels for children's products, PPAI executives and members who met with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) earlier this month drafted a letter, signed by PPAI President and CEO Steve Slagle, CAE. The letter highlights concerns held by many Association members regarding Section 301, which addresses the labeling and tracking of products intended for children.

Customization is at the heart of the issue for the promotional products industry, and it is the central issue in the ease and practicality of labeling products as intended for children.

"Our first concern relates primarily to the phrase ‘to the extent practicable, the placement of permanent, distinguishing marks on children's products.' We believe the CPSC should provide some bright line tests or safe-harbors for the phrase "to the extent practicable," the letter says.

"...there is only a finite amount of space on a promotional product for labeling. The CPSC knows the amount of space necessary to convey a message that it deems adequate in size to be read. We would submit that if that minimum label size determined by the CPSC exceeds more than 10 percent of the available space for decoration on a promotional product, it is not practicable to require it."

To read the letter in its entirety, click here.

Lennarson's AMA Presentation Available For Download
Last week, PPAI Chair Sherri Lennarson, MAS, presented a webcast to the American Marketing Association (AMA).

"Real Life, Real Experience, Real Value" offered AMA members three basic lessons about promotional products: how to use them to build lasting relationships, how they deliver an ROI that creates loyal, lifetime clients and how they can be used to create value and relevancy. If you missed the presentation you can still view it by clicking here.

Subscribe To PPB Newslink

PPAI Website

PPB Online

PPB Advertising Info

PPB Subscription Info

Washington Report

PPAI Product Safety

Promotional Consultant Today

Subscribe To
Promotional Consultant

Advertise In Promotional Consultant

PPPC (Canada)

PPAI Membership Info

PPB Product Showcase

DailyBoost

OrderTrax²

RAC Celebrates 10 Years Serving Regionals
PPAI's Regional Association Council celebrates 10 years in 2009, and to mark the milestone the council has planned commemmorative activities at the 2009 RAC Leadership Development Workshop, which will be held in July in Grapevine, Texas.

RAC was born out of the need for "a more organized and integral council to assist regional associations in protecting their individual interests, more recognition for the individual associations and the group as a whole, and to provide input for the industry on a regional and national level," says Ed Marder, who co-authored the council and served as its first president. Today, RAC represents 28 regional associations across five districts.

Read more about the history and accomplishments of RAC at PPB online.

Distributor To Appear On Home Shopping Network
Susan Sanders, owner of Grapevine, Texas-based Don Sanders Marketing (UPIC: DONS0002) will find herself the center of attention next week when she appears on the Home Shopping Network.

Sanders will share the spotlight with Turkish-inspired jewelry on May 5, after having met the jewelry line company's rep at a major industry tradeshow. This isn't her first foray into the world of products showcase work, however. In addition to working as a distributor, she's been a lifestyle and product model for three years. "[At the show] I was working as the "Bag Diva," presenting for supplier MetroPak," says Sanders. "The rep was visiting an adjacent jewelry show, and we met at the concession stand!"

On HSN, Sanders will use her background in art history to provide insight into the design elements of the pieces being sold. The jewelry is gold and sterling silver with textured, darkened finishes. "I'll be the on-air ‘color' commentator," she says. "It will be my job to tell what may have inspired the designer."

Sanders says helping sell jewelry on a live television show isn't too far removed from selling promotional products. "Anytime you go on a sales call, you have to be able to adapt and talk about a variety of things," she says.

The one-hour segment will air live at 6 pm CDT on May 5. Check your local listings for the channel.

MediaTree Pledges To Plant
100,000 Trees
Parsippany, New Jersey-based supplier MediaTree (UPIC: tni) has pledged to plant one tree for every 10 Seed-the-Future Tree Cards ordered through the end of the year, with a total goal of planting 100,000 trees. These trees are anticipated to remove more than 357,000 tons of CO2 from the environment -- enough to offset the emissions produced by more than 27,000 cars.

AIA Welcomes Lademans
To Owner Network
Neenah, Wisconsin-based distributor Adventures in Advertising (UPIC: ADVINADV) has added a new owner to its network. Sterling Heights, Michigan-based AIA/BrandLure, Inc., is run by husband-and-wife team Paul and Joann Lademan.

"Paul and I have both used promotional products throughout the years in both of our careers and we enjoy working with people to help them achieve their business goals, so becoming an AIA franchise owner makes sense for us in a number of ways," Joann says.

Prior to joining AIA, Joann spent 17 years in recruiting and human resources. Most recently, she was a direct-hire recruiter at W3R Consulting. In addition to working together with Joann, Paul will continue his position of director of e-solutions for BBDO Detroit.

Gold Bond Hires Moravec,
Promotes Two More
Chattanooga, Tennessee-based supplier Gold Bond, Inc. (UPIC: GOLD0008) has hired Kari Moravec as a senior account manager. Moravec, who covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, previously held sales positions at Los Angeles, California-based supplier Sweda Company, LLC (UPIC: SWEDA) and Akron, Ohio-based supplier Quikey Manufacturing Co. (UPIC: QUIKEY).

Gold Bond also promoted Ryan Meulemans and Gabe McGraw to account manager positions. Meuleman, who most recently managed the inside sales division, covers North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. McGraw, who also worked in inside sales, covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Heritage Sportswear Hires Long
Hebron, Ohio-based supplier Heritage Sportswear, Inc. (UPIC: HERI0002) has hired Lance Long as a sales rep for Michigan. Long most recently worked for Plymouth, Michigan-based supplier Broder Bros. (UPIC: BRODER).

New Century Direct Hires Loehr To Rep In The South, Puerto Rico
Santa Fe Springs, California-based supplier New Century Direct Promotional Products (UPIC: NCDPROMO) has hired Todd Loehr of Roswell, Georgia-based supplier rep Loehr Marketing (UPIC: loehr1). Loehr covers Alabama; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Mississippi; North Carolina; Puerto Rico; South Carolina; Tennessee and Virginia.

The Vernon Company Hires Trumble-Anderson
Newton, Iowa-based distributor The Vernon Company (UPIC: Vernon) has hired Amy Beth Trumble-Anderson as an account executive in its central region. Trumble-Anderson is a 26-year industry veteran who most recently worked for Denver, Colorado-based distributor L.W. Barrett Company (UPIC: BARRETT).

Proforma Receives InHouse Design Awards
Cleveland, Ohio-based distributor Proforma (UPIC: PROFORMA) has received two American InHouse Design Awards for its "One Source. Infinite Resources" collateral suite and its Print Capabilities brochure. This is the third consecutive year Proforma has been honored with an InHouse Design Award.

The Vernon Company Names Leeds As Supplier Of The Year
Newton, Iowa-based distributor The Vernon Company (UPIC: Vernon) has awarded New Kensington, Pennsylvania-based supplier Leed's (UPIC: LEEDS) its 2008 Supplier of the Year Award.

The award is given annually to the industry supplier who provides the best overall service to The Vernon Company and its customers. It is based on several criteria including presale quotations, proper handling of samples, prompt service on inquiries, on-time order shipments, customer service responsiveness and marketing support programs.

"Since being named a Vernon Preferred Supplier in 2005, our sales with Leed's have increased 62 percent," said Jeff Burnett, vice president of marketing. "They have gone above and beyond to develop our partner relationship."

Ward/Kraft, Inc. Receives
Local Business Award
Fort Scott, Kansas-based supplier Ward/Kraft, Inc. has been selected for the 2009 Best of Fort Scott award in the Labels category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) for the second consecutive year. Nationwide, only one in 70 recipients from 2008 were named award-winners this year.

Washington, D.C.-based USLBA promotes local business through public relations, marketing and advertising. The Best of Local Business Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and respective business category.

Getting An SBA Loan?
PPB is looking for any industry companies who are receiving loans backed by the Small Business Administration for an upcoming story. If you can help, please respond by Friday, May 1 to Tina Filipski.

What's In A Name?
How do you come up with new product names? How did you develop the name of your company? If you believe promotional products need more than just a number for identification, let us know how you create and evaluate new names. Also, if a name did or did not work well for you in the past, let us know. E-mail your company and product names, and the stories behind them, to Tama Swan by May 5 and they could be featured in an upcoming article for PPB.

Bite Into A Food Promotion
The August issue of PPB offers up a plentiful spread of all things edible including barbecue sauces, candy, cookies, popcorn, nuts, chocolate, crackers, cheese and other food-based gift baskets or sets. Want to see your food in this issue? Send descriptions and high-resolution images to Audrey Sellers for consideration. May 15 is the submission deadline.

Wanted: Wovens For All
PPB wants to see what's new in the world of wovens, so show us your short- or long-sleeve oxford, broadcloth or other woven fabric shirts. Apparel details and high-resolution images are due to Audrey Sellers by May 15 for possible inclusion in the August issue of PPB magazine.

Products For A Better Letter
The July/August issue of Promotional Consultant is correspondence central, offering up a bevy of pens, pencils, highlighters, stationary, notepads and writing accessories. Suppliers, show us your best products for putting pen to paper by sending product descriptions and high-resolution images to Audrey Sellers by May 15 for consideration.

Share Your Creative Campaigns
With PPAI
Have you just completed a campaign you feel is truly unique, or are you in the middle of wowing clients with a stellar program? Your clients may be big-box companies, prestigious universities, well-known local organizations or even convention and visitors' bureaus. Send your best examples to Erica Edwards, PPAI communications coordinator, 3125 Skyway Circle North, Irving, Texas 75038.

Got News?
Want to share news of your company's latest moves, newest talent and greatest achievements in PPB Newslink? Submit your news to Jen Alexander for consideration. Items should be sent by noon Friday for publication the following week.

The One They Remember
Do you have a personal brand? How do you package yourself? How you appear to others impacts how they respond to you. Just think, would you buy from yourself? The first impression happens within a matter of moments.

Are You Keeping Pace?
Is your horse 10 lengths ahead, with the rest of the herd, or trailing behind? While it is easy to internally gauge your sales relative to the previous month or year, that figure tells only part of the story. Performance levels within the entire industry are equally as significant, if not more so.

Champions Of Customer Service
No matter how you encounter it, an excellent customer service experience isn't quickly forgotten. Just ask PPAI's distributor members who voted for this year's PPAI Supplier Star Award winners -- they spotted excellence in customer service and proclaimed it to the industry.

A distributor asks: I love the work we do at my small distributorship, but money worries have me thinking about selling the business. However if I did this, I would want to stay on. Should I sell, or is the expectation that I could continue working there and still be happy unrealistic?

What's your answer? E-mail answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by April 30 for possible inclusion in the July 2009 issue of PPB magazine.