Broder Bros., Columbia Sportswear End Relationship
Trevose, Pennsylvania-based supplier Broder Bros. (UPIC: BRODER) and Columbia Sportswear have mutually
decided to terminate their longstanding relationship due to business and economic pressures faced in 2009.

The agreement is effective immediately and Broder will sell its remaining inventory of Columbia products.

"We are extremely disappointed to be ending our relationship with Columbia," says Girisha Chandraraj, senior vice president of marketing, in a news release. "It's a great brand and we've shared a mutually beneficial relationship. That said, we are committed to serving our customers and their needs with our extensive portfolio of branded items."

Cap America Getting Back
To Business After Tornado
Fredericktown, Missouri-based Cap America, Inc. (UPIC: CAPAMRCA) let customers know Monday its phones are in working order despite minor building damage caused by a tornado Friday morning.

"We are without power and do not expect to be fully functional again for another 24 hours, but we are beyond grateful that all associates made it to their designated areas and promptly took cover after warnings were issued," Marketing Manager Megan Arnold said in a news release issued Monday.

Bruce Watson, Cap America president and COO, says generators are being used to keep phones running, and customers can still place orders through the company's toll-free number.

Fey Line Announces
Intent To Acquire Reflectix
Edgerton, Minnesota-based supplier Fey Industries, Inc. (UPIC: FEY) is pleased to announce it has signed a letter of intent with Printmark Industries, Inc. to acquire the brand and assets of Hazleton, Pennsylvania-based supplier Reflectix® (UPIC: 2reflect). The companies are currently in the due diligence and final negotiation stage, according to a Fey news release.

"This is a great potential addition to Fey," says Michael B. Ziebell, president and CEO of Fey Industries, Inc. "The innovative Reflectix line is a perfect match with our expertise in the development of vinyl promotional products."

Michelle Fey Mitchell, vice president of strategic development for Fey Industries, says the two companies have been working on the acquisition for a couple months and anticipate seeing the acquisition finalized by the end of May.

Lex Sloot, founder and president of Reflectix, says, "We see a lot of similarities in our businesses. Fey is a company that shares our company's values and sees continued possibilities for our personal safety-related promotional products."

Norwood Thanks Customers For Support After Sale Announcement
After Indianapolis, Indiana-based supplier Norwood Promotional Products (UPIC: NORWOOD) announced last week it entered into an agreement to sell to Aurora Resurgence, a private equity firm, the company has received numerous well-wishes and words of support from customers.

The sale is intended to help Norwood strengthen its balance sheet and help develop Norwood into a stronger, more flexible supplier, says Norwood CEO Paul Lage, MAS. The sale will be completed through a proceeding in a Chapter 11 reorganization case, which Norwood filed last week with a targeted closing by the end of June.

"We will continue to purchase inventory and take and ship orders under normal schedules, so it is business as usual. Customers will receive the same high quality products and prompt service to which they are accustomed," says Lage.

Visit PPB online to read more, and check out last week's breaking news to read about the initial announcement.

Vermont's Gift Reporting Bill
Goes Before The Governor
On Friday, the Vermont state House and Senate voted to pass a bill that would ban many types of gifts from being given by pharmaceutical, medical device and biological product manufacturers. The bill is now before Gov. Jim Douglas.

S. 48 requires full disclosure of acceptable gifts to physicians, healthcare organizations, nonprofit groups and state-funded academic institutions; it is said to close a loophole in the current law that allowed most data to be submitted in aggregate form and did not require a published list of which physicians received payments from these manufacturers.

PPAI is asking members in Vermont to contact the governor to voice their opinion of the bill. Members can use this form letter to send. For more information on this and other state legislation, visit PPAI's Legislative Action Watch page.

California Rep's House Bill Mirrors Physician Payments Sunshine Act
Rep. Pete Stark, D-California, is planning to introduce a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that could have serious consequences for promotional products businesses.

Stark's bill is considered to be similar to the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, S. 301, which could effectively prohibit the distribution of promotional products to healthcare professionals. If this and any companion bills in the House pass in their current forms, the economic cost to this industry could be staggering.

California members are urged to contact or visit Stark's local offices personally to share their views on the potential impact of this bill.

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Americo Names Cofield
Sales Manager
Acworth, Georgia-based supplier Americo Manufacturing (UPIC: Americo) has hired Lynn Cofield, CAS, as sales manager of its PromoMatting division. She is responsible for overseeing the sales and marketing for the division.

Cofield entered the industry 17 years ago as vice president of marketing for St. Augusta, Minnesota-based supplier Fields Manufacturing (UPIC: FIELDS). Most recently she worked for Culver City, California-based distributor Jack Nadel Inc. (UPIC: NADELINC).

Arrow Advertising Hires
Perlman, Truesdail
New York City, New York-based distributor Arrow Advertising (UPIC: ARROWP) has hired Joel Perlman as vice president of sales to work in the company's Dallas office, and Jennifer Truesdail will work in the New York office as director of business development.

Bullet Line Hires Grigorian
For Marketing Position
Miami, Florida-based supplier Bullet Line, LLC (UPIC: BULLET) has hired Jennifer Grigorian as director of marketing. Her role is to further develop the marketing of Bullet Line as a company as well as develop programs to better serve distributors.

EnduraPack Hires Manbeck For Sales
Westbury, New York-based supplier EnduraPack (UPIC: ENDURA1) has hired Ed Manbeck as a senior account executive. Manbeck has eight years of experience in packaging and promotional products.

He worked for Commonwealth Packaging until it was purchased by Advantage Bag Company and then for Pacific Western Sales when it bought Advantage Bag.

Howard Miller Signs Shinn, Spangrud To Rep West Coast
Zeeland, Michigan-based supplier Howard Miller Co. (UPIC: clocks) recently welcomed Mark Shinn, MAS, and Jodi Spangrud of Newcastle, Washington-based supplier rep Incentives West (UPIC: IDEAWEST) to cover Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.

New Century Direct Taps Pat Kiddoo To Rep In The Midwest
Santa Fe Springs, California-based supplier New Century Direct Promotional Products (UPIC: NCDPROMO) has hired Pat Kiddoo of St. Louis, Missouri-based supplier rep Kiddoo Promo for sales coverage in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Universal Promotions Hires Kuklock As Sr. Account Specialist
Rogers, Minnesota-based supplier Universal Promotions, Inc. (UPIC: upline) recently hired Jamie Kuklok as a North American senior account specialist. Kuklok brings to Uuniversal Promotions the benefit of industry experience and major account development.

Ash City Employees Celebrate
Earth Day With Trash Cleanup
Customer service staff from Richmond Hill, Ontario-based supplier Ash City (UPIC: ash0001) celebrated Earth Day in April by dedicating their 15-minute breaks to cleaning up trash around Ash City facilities. More than 30 volunteers collected 40 pounds of garbage, and employees pledged to continue the activity every three months.

Newton Manufacturing Managers Complete Area Leadership Program
Two employees from Newton, Iowa-based distributor Newton Manufacturing Co. (UPIC: newton) recently completed the Jasper County Community Leadership Development Program. Sales Manager Nathan Bennett and Business Development Manager Sharon Mabie spent eight weeks learning leadership skills to help make a difference in their community and workplace.

The program is supported by several community organizations, including the Iowa State University Extension, Des Moines Area Community College, Jasper County Economic Development Corporation, City of Newton, the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Jasper County.

Moisant To Serve On Local Community College Board
The Pioneer Online, a publication of Oklahoma City Community College, published a story Monday on the newest appointment to the OCCC Board of Regents -- Teresa Moisant, MAS, president of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based distributor Moisant Promotional Products (UPIC: MOISANT1).

Gov. Brad Henry nominated Moisant in April, and she is awaiting confirmation by the State Senate.

"It is an honor to be included in [Board of Regents]," she says in the article. "I have always been passionate about education and serving as a regent will allow me to use my energy for something I truly believe in."

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 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, stationery, 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.

Washington Report
Some members of Congress have expressed their concerns about efforts to implement the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, has introduced H.R. 1815, the Consumer Product Safety Solutions Act of 2009, to fix flaws in the CPSIA.

Can You Save Your Job?
By the time you read this, I hope the market will be stabilizing, housing starts will be up, consumer confidence will start kicking in, your next big sale will be on the horizon and our industry will be clawing its way back from the muddy depths of the recession. Ah, that's the optimist in me.

Close Up: Alan Vaught
Alan Vaught, chief executive officer of supplier Evans Manufacturing, Inc. (UPIC: EVANS), started working at the Garden Grove, California-based company with his good friend and company founder Bruce Tricinella in 1984. During the past 19 years, he has grown Evans Manufacturing into one of the industry's largest suppliers with sales of more than $30 million last year.

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.