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June 23, 2009 |
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INDUSTRY NEWS |
PPAI NEWS |
After Purchase, BIC And Norwood Norwood and Clearwater, Florida-based supplier BIC Graphic USA (UPIC: BIC) announced Friday a definitive agreement for BIC to acquire Norwood, after BIC presented a last-minute offer and outbid the original bidder, Aurora Resurgence. "We've been engaged with BIC for about a month," says Lage. When news of the bankruptcy event was shared with industry companies, BIC showed an interest. "The situation is really what dictated the purchase," he explains. Lage says BIC's goals and vision align with Norwood's; as a former BIC employee, he understands their approach to business and says he feels the partnership with such a strategic buyer brings Norwood a "long-term level of security." He adds that BIC also shared Norwood's desire to make sure its vendors are taken care of throughout the process. Lage also says while details are still being worked out on how the two companies' leadership will work together, they will maintain separate operations while at the same time trying to find synergy. "Right now, we are focused on operating as a new company in a new era," he says. Distributor Executives Join Doug Ohlson, vice president of Salt Lake City, Utah-based distributor Ad Centives West (UPIC: ADCE0001) and Sam Sumrall, president of Jackson, Mississippi-based distributor National Awards (UPIC: NATAWARD) were elected by the membership at the Premier Group annual meeting in April. They will serve on the Premier Group Board for three years. Leed's, Sweda Are Next Companies "While Leed's has increased its own compliance efforts within the last several years, QCA now provides clear and established standards for our industry--something that was greatly needed." SnugZ VP Helps Launch He sees the group as a way for a younger generation of professionals to benefit from the experience of industry veterans. For questions about Promo35, contact Johnson at 888-447-6840 or charley@snugzusa.com. |
A Decade Later, LDW Still Motivates And Inspires Members The PPAI Leadership Conference, held just prior to the RAC LDW, brought the PPAI board and committee chairs together to discuss ways to improve the Association and the industry as a whole. PPAI Board Chair-elect Scott Siegel, MAS, says the Board presented its strategic goals to committee chairs and tasked them with updating their committee goals to help further the overall vision for PPAI. Siegel, president of Chicago, Illinois-based supplier R.S. Owens & Co. (UPIC: RSOWENS), says a secondary focus of the conference was to look at PPAI committees in general. "We discussed committee effectiveness and alignment and elicited ideas from the chairs on current issues with regard to the committee structure, and on solutions and changes," he says. He adds that the committee feedback was "extremely detailed and incredibly valuable. It was so positive that some outgoing chairs wanted to continue being chairs." The RAC LDW kicked off on Thursday with an opening keynote from John Paul, a partner with Association Works. Paul delivered a spirited presentation on what it takes to be the association and leader of choice and what barriers can get in the way. Visit PPB online to read more. PPEF Announces The process by which PPEF scholarship recipients are selected is a detailed one, involving reviews of academic achievement and careful evaluation of essays and resumes, says Wayne Greenberg, MAS, chair-elect of the PPEF Board of Trustees. Criteria such as grade point average and standardized test scores receive point values, as well as an individual's displayed financial need. The essays are unmarked so judges can read them with impartiality and fairness. At least three people review each resume and essay. "We are very proud of the fair and impartial review of applications," says Greenberg. "The parents of our recipients come from all levels of the industry. From packers to presidents, all were given an equal chance at receiving a scholarship." PPEF continues to award both need-based and merit-based scholarships. Of the 73 recipients this year, 40 fell within the financial need guidelines. "We are committed to helping those with the greatest needs and will continue to evaluate and evolve our scholarship programs to fit the economic times," says Greenberg. For the full list of winners, visit PPB online. |
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Product Safety Newsletter Mentions PPAI Visit To D.C. Consumer Product Safety Commission Legal Counsel Cheryl Falvey explained that, in the CPSC's opinion, having a decoration that might appeal to children doesn't necessarily mean that product is intended for children. The reasoning reflects Falvey's meeting with PPAI executives and members in April, in which PPAI President and CEO Steve Slagle, CAE, explained that there are multiple players in the promotional products business, and where and when the decision is made that an item is a children's product and thus subject to certain CPSIA requirements can become tricky. Supplier Rep Learns The conference is sponsored by Manufacturers' Agents National Association (MANA) and brings together supplier line representatives from several industries. This year also was a first for PPAI's involvement with the conference. "The goal of the conference was to raise the bar of professionalism in the supper rep community," says Slavonic. "I had heard a little about MANA from Michele Packard-Milam about a year ago, and while I try not to have any expectations when I first go into something, I came away very impressed." Slavonic says the conference, exclusively for manufacturers' reps, was an opportunity to "peek behind the curtain" for an unvarnished look at the challenges and opportunities reps face. The sessions he attended discussed small business issues that affect virtually every multi-line rep: tax law, succession planning and healthcare, among others. "We're all essentially small businesses," says Slavonic. Slavonic adds he has discovered some useful tools that he will begin applying to his business, such as sales call techniques, year-end reports and expense breakout sheets for suppliers. PPAI's burgeoning focus on the needs of multi-line reps, including offering opportunities such as MANAfest, can help reps better serve their manufacturers, he says. "PPAI's affiliation with MANA could make its services more valuable to multi-line reps." |
Members Urged To Call Though PPAI and member efforts have resulted in the threshold for items that are exempt from reporting requirements being raised from $0 to $5, the Association continues to press the Senate to raise the de minimis level to $25 in its freestanding version, which currently would limit promotional products of ANY value. The melding of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act with overall healthcare reform will make it increasingly difficult to turn the clock back if the desired language is not in the Senate version. The Senate Finance Committee is currently working on its comprehensive healthcare bill, and it is expected that there will be an amendment to add S.301 to it. Visit PPAI LAW for information on the bill and visit www.senate.gov to find phone numbers for your senators to call and express your views on these amendments. White House Supports With a few proposed changes in the language that will help support the use of incentives in wellness programs, PPAI is asking members to contact their respective legislators and encourage them to support S. 803. Visit PPAI LAW to learn more about S. 803 and access a form letter to send to your senators. product responsibility
Tenenbaum Named Head Of CPSC Inez Tenenbaum, a former South Carolina school superintendent, replaces the CPSC's acting chair, Nancy Nord. |
This week's Industry Show features highlights from PROMOTIONS EAST and spotlights handy mechanical products. |
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people news |
PPAF Awards A Trip To Women's Leadership Conference PPAI provided one complimentary registration spot for a PPAF member, and PPAF has provided a financial gift to help cover the cost of lodging, food and transportation. To qualify for the award, interested members submitted a short paragraph sharing why they would like to attend the conference. All entries were voted on by the PPAF Awards Committee and were anonymously judged. As the winnner, Anstine has agreed to either write an article for publication in the PPAF Advisor or speak at a PPAF dinner meeting on what she learned while attending WLC. UMAPP Wins Another ADvocate Challenge; New Contest Begins Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals (UMAPP) took home top honors with 16 points, while runners-up Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) and Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) earned five points each. There was also a tie for the individual winner with David Hawes, MAS, of UMAPP and Hillary Feder, MAS, of UMAPP with six points each. This year's individual runner-up was Teresa Moisant, MAS, of PPAS with five points. The next leg of the challenge, in which members are encouraged to speak at secondary schools and universities as well as organization functions about the power of promotional products, began June 22 and runs through The PPAI Expo 2010. charitable contributions
PromoShop Adds To "To have been a partner and sponsor with the SOWWG was spectacular," says Kris Robinson, vice president of PromoShop and licensing representative for the SOWWG. "The Special Olympics is the essence of human spirit, and we are so proud to have been part of this worldwide event." The Vernon Company Surpasses 2008 Donation To Relay For Life |
Breckenridge Leaves Moderne Glass, Joins Sabina Breckenridge is responsible for directing sales and marketing efforts in conjunction with multi-line reps. He will coordinate these responsibilities from his office in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. He can be reached at his Pennsylvania office at 888-SABINA1 (888-722-4621) or by e-mail at Stan@Sabina-usa.com. River's End Names Jamieson Jamieson began working in promotional products in the 1980, forming a premium rep organization with his brother, Tom. He has also worked as an independent rep for Minnetonka, Minnesota-based supplier PremiumWear, Inc. (UPIC: MUNS0001). Shumsky Promotes Brown, Hires Hayes In Boost Rewards™ Division Shumsky also welcomed Sarah Hayes to the company as the Boost Rewards program coordinator. The Vernon Company Adds Palecek To The Central Region accolades
Brand It Promotions Certified As Women's Business Enterprise WBENC's certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51-percent owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women. |
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Good Timing Best-Dressed Men Share Your Sports Campaigns With PPAI what would you do?
A distributor asks: "For years I've been putting 50 percent down on an order and paying the balance when the products arrived. Now this supplier wants me to pay 100 percent up front. Should I just consider this a sign of the times and comply, or should I take my business elsewhere?" What's your answer? E-mail answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by June 30 for possible inclusion in the September 2009 issue of PPB magazine. |
Bring On The Fun Web Browsers The Best-Selling Products And Programs Of 2008 |
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