BIC To Close Atchison Facility
In Kansas This Summer
Clearwater, Florida-based supplier BIC Graphic USA (UPIC: BIC) today announced plans to close its facility in Atchison, Kansas, which will result in layoffs of 88 employees. All affected full-time employees will receive separation packages. BIC Graphic acquired Atchison Products, Inc. in 2007.

The closure of the Atchison facility, planned for July, is part of BIC Group's cost reduction plan announced on April 22 and is part of BIC's response to challenging economic conditions. The work will be consolidated into BIC Graphic USA's operations in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Florida.

"We sincerely regret the effects of this business decision on our dedicated employees in Atchison," says Nicolas Paillot, BIC Graphic Group general manager, in a company news release. "However, the economic crisis continues to challenge the promotional business and we must continue to take steps
towards consolidation to achieve greater efficiencies."

As part of the facility closure plan, BIC Graphic USA is considering a subcontracting agreement proposed
by Atchison-based employees. BIC Graphic USA has communicated to Atchison employees that it will make a final decision by May 15.

Brans Nut Co. Hands Promotional Products Operations To Sweet Nut Tree
Wauconda, Illinois-based supplier Brans Nut Co., Inc. (UPIC: BRANS) is leaving the promotional products industry and is handing its customer service and production over to Holland, Ohio-based supplier Sweet Nut Tree (UPIC: SNT). Brans Nut President Rick Breeden will continue to serve past Brans distributor customers, using Sweet Nut Tree's customer service, products and facilities.

"We feel confident in Sweet Nut Tree because of their in-house packaging and service. Their quality is second to none, and we feel that they have a good understanding of our customers' needs," says Breeden. "We want to make the transition as smooth as possible, so we will be contacting our distributor customers personally to inform them of the change."

Clayman Promotional Group
Partners With IndyCar Racer
Kansas City, Kansas-based distributor Clayman Promotional Group (UPIC: 7462) has become the exclusive distributor of Graham Rahal branded merchandise to be sold on the IndyCar driver's website.

"Clayman Promotional Group's online merchandise program is unique and offers fans a variety of products. With the ability to see inventory, due dates and multiple views of the product, they have provided my fans a great place to shop," says Rahal.

"We are excited to be working with Rahal at the early stages in his IndyCar racing career," says Gary Tribolet, Clayman national account executive.

Impact Promotional Publishing
Shuttering Its Operations
In a press release issued last Friday, industry leader Peter Klein announced he would be closing the doors on Impact Promotional Publishing LLC, the company he founded 30 years ago. The Dunedin, Florida-based company will keep key employees on at its headquarters to resolve open credit and payment issues through June.

Journalbooks Offers EQP
On Qualified Orders
In an effort to help distributors through a tough economic climate, Charlotte, North Carolina-based supplier Journalbooks (UPIC: TIMEPLAN) is offering end quantity pricing (EQP) on all orders received after May 1 and shipped by August 31.

Any distributor who currently earns EQP status will receive an additional five percent off EQP as well. "We hope it will help distributors sell where they couldn't before," says Tom O'Boyle, president. "We would rather keep our workers earning pay even if our margins are squeezed. End users also benefit because they are able to advertise with more impact and less expense. It benefits the entire food chain."

New Products International
Adds Vivitar Line
Chestnut Ridge, New York-based supplier New Products International, Inc. (UPIC: NPINC) has added a line of Vivitar cameras, including digital, underwater and video cameras, to its offerings. "The high perceived value of Vivitar and their value pricing makes these cameras ideal promotional products," says Andrew Goranson, MAS, assistant COO.

Obama Names CPSC Chair Nominee, New Commissioner
The National Association of Manufacturers announced today President Obama's plan to announce Inez Moore Tenenbaum has a nominee for chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. He also intends to name Robert Adler as a new commissioner for the CPSC.

The announcements come in conjunction with a planned increase in the CPSC's budget by 71 percent, according to a statement by the White House. Obama's 2009 budget allocates $107 million to the CPSC.

In a bid to "revitalize the agency," Obama will increase the number of the agency's commissioners from three to five in the coming months, the White House statement said.

Pilgrim Plastics Relocates Chatco Division Operations
Brockton, Massachusetts-based supplier Pilgrim Plastics (UPIC: PILGRIM) has relocated its Chatco Pilgrim division from Chatham, New York, to Pilgrim's main manufacturing facility in Brockton.

The combination of Pilgrim and Chatco will create new sales opportunities for their distributor base, says Mark Abrams, president and CEO of Pilgrim Plastics. "We feel that this is a very synergistic combination that will be warmly embraced by our customers," says Abrams.

Workflow's Lenders
Amend Credit Agreements
Workflow Management, Inc., parent company of Dayton, Ohio-based distributor WorkflowOne (UPIC: SF00001), has reached an agreement with lenders to amend its primary credit agreements. The amendments give the company enhanced liquidity and greater financial flexibility as it continues to implement its transformation plan, according to a company news release.

"The transformation plan is a program to help make the company more products and more service-focused, and to get our costs in line," says Dean Truitt, Workflow One president.

Truitt adds that after having made several acquisitions in the past few years, the company is seizing opportunities to standardize operations and eliminate redundant processes. "WorkflowOne is actively changing itself to improve perofrmance. We've identified about 60 initiatives to improve the company," he says.

PPAI Sets The Industry A-Twitter Over The PPAI Expo 2010
In an effort to build community and share news of tradeshow updates, PPAI recently launched a Twitter site for The PPAI Expo 2010.

"Our goal is to give folks an inside look at The Expo while also communicating important dates and information," says Keith Vincent, PPAI marketing director. "We work on Expo year-round, so as we're considering things like speakers or bands we're tweeting about it -- trying to build community and ultimately engagement from the audience."

Vincent says the daily effort to put together the industry's largest tradeshow make the news well suited to a format like Twitter's. "We wanted to give people an opportunity to get an inside look at all that goes into it, as well as give our close friends an opportunity to get information that might not be printed anywhere else."

Vincent says he "tweets" at least once every weekday, and hopes that his messages are not only reaching an audience that tracks with social media but also "building a community (fan base) with whom we can build a stronger relationship."

You can follow news of The PPAI Expo 2010 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ppaiexpo.

PPAI To Host Job Listings Page
For Industry Members
To help industry companies fill open positions, PPAI will begin hosting a free Job Listings page linked from this newsletter.

To submit your job listing, send a brief description of the position at your company (maximum of 500 characters) along with job title, location and contact information (name, email address and phone number) to ppb@ppai.org, with 'Job Listing Submission' in the subject line.

The ADvocate Regional Challenge Is Still In Play
Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP) still holds the lead in this leg of the PPAI ADvocate Regional Challenge, which asks members to give speeches and presentations on the power of promotional products for points. UMAPP currently has 12 points while Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) has four points and Specialty Advertising Counselors of the Delaware Valley (SACDV) has two points.

PPAI continues to draw one name each month to receive a small gift for individual participation in the contest. Teresa Moisant, MAS, of Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) has taken home the third prize in the ADvocate Regional Challenge drawing. The more reporting forms you turn in, the better the chance your name will be chosen at the next drawing on June 9.

If you are interested in participating in the challenge, there is still time. This leg of the competition ends June 15, just prior to the PPAI Leadership Development Workshop June 17-19, 2009. For more information on the ADvocate Regional Challenge or the monthly drawing, contact Erica Edwards, PPAI communications coordinator, at 972-258-3063.

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AIA Names Karns
Franchise Support Supervisor
Neenah, Wisconsin-based distributor Adventures In Advertising (UPIC: ADVINADV) has hired Connie Karns as the franchise support supervisor. She is responsible for managing the franchise support representatives within the growing customer service department, establishing initial and ongoing technical and professional development training opportunities for team members, and identifying, implementing and coaching effective interpersonal communication skills within all AIA departments.

Karns has more than 21 years of customer service experience across various industries. Prior to joining AIA, she managed a team of eight inside sales associates for Cisco, a supplier of networking equipment and internet-based network management services. Additionally, she spent 10 years as a sales coordinator with JanSport, a bag and luggage manufacturer.

Beacon Promotion Names Schiffelhuber Regional VP Of Sales
New Ulm, Minnesota-based supplier Beacon Promotions (UPIC: BEACONP) has named Sharon Schiffelhuber vice president of sales in the eastern region. Schiffelhuber joined Beacon in April as a sales manager when the company acquired the Ready Reference line of products. As VP of sales, she develops distributor business for all Beacon lines in 18 eastern states.

HIRSCH GIFT Hires Burnett
As Sales Rep
Houston, Texas-based supplier HIRSCH GIFT (UPIC: HIRGIFT) has expanded its sales coverage by hiring Charlie Burnett of Lee's Summit, Missouri-based supplier rep Focus Marketing. Burnett will cover Kansas and Missouri.

K & R Hires Mason For
Sales Manager Post
Markham, Ontario-based supplier K & R Precision Corp. (UPIC: K-AND-R) has hired Jennifer Mason as sales manager for Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Natural Trends Hires Witte
As Midwest Rep
Provo, Utah-based supplier Natural Trends, LLC (UPIC: NTRENDS) has hired Jack Witte of Fond Du Lac, Michigan-based supplier rep The Witte Group to rep Natural Trends in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

New Century Direct Hires Johnson, Young
Santa Fe Springs, California-based supplier New Century Direct Promotional Products (UPIC: NCDPROMO) has hired Dale Johnson of Duxbury, Massachusetts-based supplier rep Dale B. Johnson Associates to represent the company in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.

Chris Young of Sand Springs, Oklahoma-based supplier rep Young and Associates (UPIC: Young) will cover Arkansas, Lousiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

WorkflowOne Promotes Truitt
To President And COO
Dayton, Ohio-based distributor WorkflowOne (UPIC: SF00001) has promoted Dean Truitt to president and COO. Truitt previously served as vice president of operations and chief operating officer. Robert Whittington joined WorkflowOne in April as chief information officer. Whittington recently served as senior vice president and CIO for Wendy's International.

Ernest Miller will join WorkflowOne as executive vice president of operations on May 11. Miller previously served as vice president of global manufacturing and supply chain operations for NCR Corporation.

Ted H. Fuehr, Veteran Distributor, Dies At 97
Ted H. Fuehr, founder of Ted Fuehr Advertising and veteran of many promotional products companies, died April 30 at age 97 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Fuehr was born January 24, 1912, in Dundee, Iowa, and graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and later took a job as a sales rep for the Quaker Oats Company. In 1945, the father-in-law of a boyhood friend, Bob Yaw, asked Fuehr to come work at Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Souvenir Lead Pencil Company, now a division of Norwood Promotional Products. He eventually became vice president of sales and manufacturing, and worked there until 1961, when Bill Vernon Sr. asked him to help The Vernon Company in Newton, Iowa, start a manufacturing facility in Independence, Missouri.

Fuehr spent time with Vitronic and Gold Bond in the late 1960s and in 1970 helped move writing instrument manufacturer Micropoint, Inc. into promotional products.

Fuehr started his own distributorship, Ted Fuehr Advertising, in Sunnyvale, California in 1973; calendars became his specialty. He built a large clientele before moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2001.

Fuehr served on several committees of the Golden Gate Advertising Specialty Association, now Promotional Marketing Association of Northern California (PMANC).

Fuehr is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy L. Fuehr. He is survived by his sons, David L. Fuehr of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Ted C. Fuehr, MAS, of Leawood, Kansas, president of distributor Incentives International, Inc.; four grandchildren and one great grandchild. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to Ted C. Fuehr at 7275 W. 162 St. Suite 108 Overland Park, Kansas, 66085.

Crystal D Donates Awards To Cardiac Children's Cup
St. Paul, Minnesota-based supplier Crystal D (UPIC: CRYSTALD) donated 24 awards for the 10th annual Cardiac Children's Cup, a golf tournament that donates 100 percent of its proceeds to the Cardiovascular Research Fund at children's hospitals and clinics. This is the fourth year Crystal D has donated awards to the tournament.

The event was created by Mark and Sheryl Howard, the owners of FirstSite Staffing, in recognition of the doctors, nurses, staff and facilities that saved the life of their son, a survivor of a congenital heart defect.

Crystal D donated 12 Augusta Golf Plaques, as well as 12 Clipped Golf Balls, to be given to tournament winners. "Crystal D is honored to donate awards to help support this fundraiser," says President Chuck Dahlgren. "We have a strong belief in giving back to our community, and this is a great way for us to do that."

TRG Group Helps Raise More Than $1 Million For March Of Dimes
St. Louis, Missouri-based supplier TRG Group (UPIC: TRG), along with other area companies, helped raise more $1 million through the annual March of Dimes March for Babies.

Centric Group, TRG's parent company, received first place in the mid-sized company category with more than $50,000 raised by employees, including more than 70 from TRG Group. Kevin Brennan, a senior graphic designer in TRG's marketing department, won first place in the t-shirt design contest.

"We had a great time the entire month of March with various fundraising events in our office," said Andrew Spellman, VP of corporate sales. "We are happy to be able to support such a helpful charity like the March of Dimes."

Moisant Promotional Products Earns Second Best Of Business Award
OKC Business, a business publication of Central Oklahoma, has given Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based distributor Moisant Promotional Products (UPIC: MOISANT1) the Best Of Business Award in the Promotional Products category. This is the second consecutive win for Moisant Promotional Products.

"It is quite an honor to be voted as the Best by the Oklahoma City business community," says Teresa Moisant, president and owner. "Let's just say we are determined to continue to maintain the highest level of business standard so we can retain our best-of credential."

Newton Manufacturing
Recognized By United Way
Newton, Iowa-based distributor Newton Manufacturing Co. (UPIC: NEWTON) was recognized by United Way of Jasper County for achieving outstanding results during last year's fund-raising campaign. Newton has been a longtime supporter of United Way.

To raise money, employees participated in several events throughout the week including a cubicle decorating contest, bake sale and soup cook-off. Events were designed to encourage donations and pledges.

Progressive Promotions CEO Honored By Women's Groups
Julie Levi, CEO of Englewood, New Jersey-based distributor Progressive Promotions (UPIC: PPIPROMO) was honored in March by two women's organizations. The Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO) honored her as the outstanding woman business entrepreneur (WBE) in the New York region, and Enterprising Women magazine recognized her as a top entrepreneur in North America.

"To stand among the other women entrepreneurs, and especially on the shoulders of those who came before us was a great honor," says Levi. "I'm grateful for the recognition and for the team I have working with me every day."

SnugZ/USA Honored With
Salt Lake Mayor's Proclamation
Salt Lake City, Utah-based supplier SnugZ/USA (UPIC: SNUGZUSA) was honored with a proclamation by the Salt Lake County mayor in recognition of its Pay It Forward campaigns.

"Pay It Forward Day," as announced by Mayor Peter Corroon, honors the concept of performing small acts of kindness every day, as represented by the efforts of Charley Johnson, CAS, and Brandon Mackay, MAS, to build a stronger foundation for a better future for individuals worldwide, according to the proclamation.

News of the proclamation is a great feeling, says Johnson. "What I would really like for people to understand about this proclamation is how easy it was to make happen. This world needs good right now, and if you ask your local city official about [establishing a] ‘Pay It Forward Day,' there is no way they will turn you down."

The Price Is Right -- Or Is It?
Pricing strategies can make or break a deal. While no one wants to sell on price, buyers' budgets continue to shrink. Many promotional consultants turn to discounts, special offers and coupons. Others are adding value to the equation rather than reducing prices. Have you tried either of these tactics, and what was the impact on your bottom line? Let Lisa Horn know if you've had success by May 12 for possible inclusion in an upcoming story in Promotional Consultant.

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.

Define ROI Using Real Life Experiences
Are you incorporating The Sixth Sense into your selling strategies? If you're not selling with heart and passion, my guess is you're not delivering the value end buyers, promotional consultants and distributors not only expect but demand in today's market.

Inside The Marketer's Mind: A PPAI Exclusive Study
Marketers know that innovation is what drives continuing profits. So, when they introduce a new brand, product or service to the market, what are the main attributes they look for in the media they choose? Targetability and memorability -- characteristics of promotional products -- are the principal media requirements discovered in a recent study conducted exclusively for PPAI.

Will Write For Sales
Have you read a blog lately? Unless you've been in a remote jungle with no broadband access, chances are you have read blog posts or otherwise taken part in the blogosphere. Check out three industry players who use online publishing to connect with customers and grow their businesses.

A distributor asks: What is a good way to motivate salespeople and help them stay positive in these tough economic times?

What's your answer? E-mail answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by May 29 for possible inclusion in the August 2009 issue of PPB magazine.