SIGG's BPA Use Revives Water Bottle Safety Discussion
Swiss aluminum-bottle manufacturer SIGG recently revealed that some of its high-end reusable drinkware, manufactured before 2008, included small amounts of bisphenol-A, a chemical which has come under scrutiny, and been restricted in many cases, in the past few years.

The revelation, reported last month in Advertising Age, is followed by the notion that while SIGG works to repair its image as an eco-friendly company, other manufacturers in the same business may gain more customers as a result.

Blanchester, Ohio-based supplier The Allen Company (UPIC: ALLEN) sells one market competitor, the CamelBak line of portable drinkware. Allen's CamelBak bottles are manufactured from a material called Triton, which executive vice president Stan Dohan, MAS, says is "the first completely new polymer to be developed in the past 11 years."

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HANDSTANDS® Receives Patent For Puzzle
Bluffdale, Utah-based supplier HANDSTANDS® (UPIC: HANDSTND) has received a patent for its Pieceless Puzzle™, a jigsaw-style puzzle whose "pieces" are connected.

"Bringing creative ideas to your customers and providing them with a purposeful promotion are what we believe sets us apart from the crowd," says Conie Mangum, vice president of sales.

PromoCorp Joins Boundless Network
Alexandria, Virginia-based distributor PromoCorp (UPIC: Promo108) has been acquired by Austin, Texas-based distributor Boundless Network (UPIC: Bound784). Boundless welcomes eight PromoCorp employees as part of the acquisition. PromoCorp Co-Founder Larry Ledoyen cites Boundless Network's vision for the future of the promotional industry as a key reason for joining the company.

"We were impressed with the company's vision, the caliber of its people and the management team's ability to understand the needs of our sales professionals and the changing needs of our customers," says Ledoyen. "Ultimately what mattered to us was partnering with a company that had long-term goals that would enable us to take our accounts to the next level."

Quebec's Blueline Special Markets Division To Relocate
The special markets division of St. Jean sur Richelieu, Quebec-based supplier Dominion Blueline (UPIC: DOMI0002) is relocating effective September 14.

The new address is 230 Foch Street, St. Jean sur Richelieu, Quebec, J3B 2B2. The new phone numbers are 450-337-3337 and 877-315-3337, and the new fax numbers are 450-337-1333 and 877-901-1333.

Committee Chairs Take The Lead On S. 301 Action
As lawmakers return this week from their summer recess, they look toward addressing healthcare reform. At the same time, PPAI committee chairs have been asked to contact their lawmakers about the Physician Payments Sunshine Act and encourage committee members to reach out as well.

In its current form, the Act effectively prohibits the distribution of promotional products to healthcare professionals. On Wednesday, PPAI kicks off its campaign to call all U.S. senators, and the Association will be sending sample scripts and phone numbers to UPIC subscribers.

Garth Huettl, CAS, president of the PPAI Regional Association Council and a sales executive with Lewiston, Maine-based distributor Geiger (UPIC: Geiger), is geared up for Wednesday's campaign and wants others to know the importance of speaking out en masse.

"I really believe we have to show them there's a number of people involved in our business, and there's strength in numbers," says Huettl. "We have to be consistent in our message."

Eric Ekstrand, MAS, a member of PPAI's Government Relations Action Council (GRAC) and senior vice president of Chagrin Falls, Ohio-based distributor The Mort C. McClennan Co. (UPIC: MCMCC), says it doesn't matter whether the person reaching out is head of a company or a multiline rep--officials need to hear from everyone who has concerns about S. 301.

"I still think and I'm hopeful that elected officials still listen to their constituents," says Ekstrand. He adds that the more people contact senators and representatives, the more their eyes will be opened to the number of people who may be affected.

Ekstrand himself has contacted his legislators about the bill already, and plans to follow up during this week's campaign.

Huettl says he's sent e-mails to his senators (one is an author of the bill, Sen. Kohl) and not receiving a response is not enough to slow him down. "The next couple of weeks will be important. You can't let someone try to take away your livelihood without you saying something," he says.

PPAI Continues Support For Practical Means Of Fighting Illegal Logging
Congress has sought to curb illegal logging through revision of the Lacey Act, updating the circa-1900 law to now require importers of plants and plant-derived products to declare the name of the species of plant that was used.

The act's revision was included in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. PPAI is among several organizations calling for practical application of the law.

PPAI has been working with a coalition of other industries affected by the law and the implementing regulations. The law requires the identification of the primary plant source of products and proper documentation in importation paperwork. 

Since the law's passage, the coalition has been working with the federal agencies responsible for implementation to identify practical solutions to the myriad of challenges created by the law's broad scope and application.

On September 4, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a revised implementation schedule for the Lacey Act requirements, which can be viewed here.

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President Of Accolades, Inc. Receives Business Award
Daryll Griffin, president and CEO of Norcross, Georgia-based distributor Accolades, Inc. (UPIC: ACCINC) has been named a 2009 Minority Business Owner of the Year by Atlanta Tribune magazine.

Griffin says the nomination by one of her clients, Georgia Power, came as a complete surprise. "We did not know until the issue came out who nominated us," says Griffin.

This is the second time Accolades, Inc. has been honored by the magazine; the first came in 1996, she says.

Griffin adds that having such an honor attached to the company establishes credibility with new and existing clients. Additionally, the coverage in the publication only helps get the word out about the promotional products industry.

"It speaks to our longevity as a company, but it also speaks to the importance and power of promotional products as an industry," she says.

Geiger's 'Almanac' Challenges National Weather Service Predictions
The Farmer's Almanac, produced by Lewiston, Maine-based distributor Geiger (UPIC: Geiger), has been helping farmers plant crops and prepare for weather fluctuations since the 1800s. This year the almanac is preaching a harsh winter for many parts of the U.S.

This prediction runs in sharp contrast to the National Weather Service, however, which says the country can expect average or above-average temperatures in those same regions, thanks to the effects of El Niño.

Peter Geiger, editor of the almanac, says the secret formula used to predict weather forecasts has proven to be a reliable method for readers.

"We don't hit every darn day, but we're pretty darn accurate," Geiger tells the Lewiston Sun-Journal. "People use us all the time to plan weddings and vacations."

Proforma Earns Spot On Forbes' Franchise List
Cleveland, Ohio-based distributor Proforma (UPIC: PROFORMA) ranked No. 7 on Forbes magazine's first 'Top 20 Franchises To Start' list. The distributor was recognized for a favorable survival rate, large support center staff and low initial franchise fee.

"This year has been an incredible year for us. We have launched numerous support programs for our owners and have noticed growth within our network," says Greg Muzzillo, founder and co-CEO.

"To be included in this list shows the franchising industry, as well as the printing and promotional products industries, that we deliver on our promises to our franchise owners across the country," he says.

The Industry Show serves up restaurant products this week.

Calling All Camera Mavens!
What great photos do you have from a recent company event, meeting or outing? PPB is on the search for industry pictures of all kinds--whether they're shots of your company's awards dinner or your co-workers' community service project. Send high-resolution photos and a description of what's taking place and who's pictured to Snapshots@ppai.org by September 18.

It's A Distributors' Picks December
Distributors, we're reserving the December issue of PPB especially for you. We're mixing things up and asking you to submit your all-time favorite products and apparel for Editor's Picks and Eye On Apparel. Are you swooning over a gourmet gift basket or has a particular fleece sweatshirt always been a favorite with your clients? Tell us about it. Just e-mail the product and supplier name, along with a few lines on why you love the item, to Audrey Sellers by September 18.

PPAI Needs Your Olympic Products
Promotional products are a key component of many large sporting events, especially the Olympics. PPAI is building a collection of these products for a project. If you've ever supplied product for the Olympics or are producing products for the upcoming Winter Games, send your products or high-res photographs to Erica Edwards, PPAI communications coordinator, 3125 Skyway Circle North, Irving, Texas 75038.

A distributor asks: "We've had an order for four months that we can't get out of the door because the end user keeps hesitating and changing its mind about what imprint it wants. What can I do to move them along? Right now they're just wasting my time."

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

Answers to this month's question are in. Click here to read what others had to say about a distributor who wanted to know whether she should pay 100 percent up front or walk away.

Phthalates: A Comprehensive Guide
Consumer products containing phthalates have been used for decades, but you may have not heard the word until recently when a firestorm of phthalate-centered controversy, litigation and legislation erupted. Now concern over phthalates is invading the promotional products industry.

Promotional Products Business In 'The New Economy'
For months theorists have discussed how the U.S. economy will likely emerge from the recession as a wholly different animal. While forecasts range from subtle variations to you-can't-even-imagine, most agree things are changing. We asked three big-time industry players how they think the promotional products business will look in the new economy.

Spend A Day With The Miller Company's Tom Miller
Things haven't been quite normal for Tom Miller as of late. The president of Colleyville, Texas-based distributor The Miller Company (UPIC: MILL0006) recently returned from France where he attended his graduation ceremony from HEC School of Management in conjunction with Oxford University. Miller earned a master's degree in coaching and consulting for change.