Flu Season A Chance To Boost Sales
The flurry of flu headlines mixed with overwhelming demand for hand-sanitizer products has meant a boom in sales for many industry suppliers, but keeping up with the interest has proven challenging for some.

Mel Ellis, president of Portland, Oregon-based supplier Humphrey Line (UPIC: HUMPHREY), says producing his company's popular hand-sanitizer products in the U.S. and maintaining 10-day lead times means Humphrey has seen a marked increase in sales.

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ABnote Teams Up With Half Price Books On Recycling Effort
In an effort to reduce waste and minimize the use of plastic materials, Boston, Massachusetts-based supplier ABnote North America (UPIC: Arthu280) has joined Half Price Books to recycle gift cards.

The bookstore chain will purchase ABnote recycled gift cards made from Earthworks recycled plastic, and after the gift cards are fully redeemed by customers, Half Price Books will collect the used cards and send them back to Earthworks. Once there, they are re-processed into sheets and shipped to ABnote North America for printing and conversion into gift cards once again.

"The recyclable card program builds on the already strong environmental commitment of Half Price Books," says Jake Jacobs, executive vice president of sales and marketing for ABnote North America. "We are glad to work with Half Price Books and Earthworks in helping to build the PVC recycling loop and to enable gift cards to keep on giving."

Noteworthy To Produce Krieger-Ragsdale's Memo Book Division
Amsterdam, New York-based supplier Noteworthy (UPIC: NWORTHY) has acquired the memo book division of Evansville, Indiana-based supplier Krieger-Ragsdale, which shuttered its operations in April amid a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

In addition to the transaction, which was announced in early October, Noteworthy has purchased advanced equipment and hired key personnel to continue producing the memo book portion of K-R's 100-year-old product line.

"Providing a full line of products for note-taking just makes sense," says Chad Majewski, vice president of sales. "I am excited about the new opportunities."

Boundless Network To Be Exclusive Provider For Canadian Cancer Society
Austin, Texas-based distributor Boundless Network (UPIC: Bound784) has been chosen as the exclusive merchandise distributor for the Canadian Cancer Society B.C. and Yukon Division.

"We are very excited to extend our relationship with the Canadian Cancer Society. They clearly understand that optimizing spend on branded merchandise goes well beyond a company store or vendor contract," says Boundless Network CEO Jason Black.

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer.

Meeting Professionals Survey Results Now Available Online
More than 92 percent of meetings professionals surveyed at the Meeting Professionals International Convention in July said they use promotional products at tradeshows and events, with more than 56 percent saying they choose promotional products because they increase brand recognition.

The responses gathered by PPAI show meeting professionals overwhelmingly choose promotional products to help them deliver crucial industry-related messages.

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B2B International Study Reveals Popularity Of Promotional Products
A story in B2B International lends kudos to promotional products as a viable alternative to traditional media when companies' marketing budgets are slashed.

Of the companies interviewed that were working with smaller budgets in 2009, more than half said they were shifting advertising investment away from brand-building initiatives and towards promotional marketing.

SAAGNY Teams Talk To Senate Officials in D.C.
Regional groups continue to reach out to their legislators in hopes of getting relief from the stringent rules written in the Physician Payments Sunshine Act.

Last Monday, several New York- and New Jersey-based members of Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with the staff health aides for each of their respective senators.

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PPAI's brand. Heads To Regional Show
PPAI has partnered with the Specialty Advertising Association of California (SAAC) to bring brand., the new incentives product showcase launched at The PPAI Expo 2009, to the 2010 SAAC show, August 3-5 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California.

PPAI's goal is to expand the reach of brand. beyond The PPAI Expo and offer promotional consultants, in a regional setting, the chance to explore sales opportunities in the recognition, engagement and incentive market. The showcase will be conveniently located on the show floor and will offer the same look and feel as the brand. showcase at The PPAI Expo.

"We view the SAAC show as the leading tradeshow in southern California and the best time of year to extend the brand. showcase," says Darel Cook, PPAI director of expositions.

"The SAAC Board is very excited that PPAI is bringing the brand. showcase to the 2010 SAAC Show," says Rick Greene, MAS, regional vice president of Sterling, Illinois-based distributor HALO/Lee Wayne (UPIC: LEEWAYNE) and president of SAAC. "This synergy is exactly what we need to bring back a broader scope to the event. Thanks to this new addition, I have no doubt that the show will be electrifying next August. A win-win for exhibitors and distributors alike."

For information on brand. or to exhibit at the SAAC showcase, contact Joel Baker at 972-258-3021 or JoelB@ppai.org.

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Dohan Honored With Chamber Business Award
Allen Dohan, president and CEO of Blanchester, Ohio-based supplier The Allen Company (UPIC: ALLEN), was honored by the Blanchester Area Chamber of Commerce Monday night with its Businessman of the Year award.

This is Dohan's first time to receive the award from the Chamber. He says the award speaks to the efforts and talents of all the employees at his company, which is celebrating 50 years this year and is one of the oldest businesses in the community.

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Companies announce the winners of their sales promotions, and homegrown products are in the spotlight on The Industry Show.

The Best In Bags
Click through the December issue of Promotional Consultant magazine and you'll find a bounty of bags--everything from duffels, totes and garment bags to backpacks, messenger bags and computer bags. Want to see your bag in the issue? Send a product description and high-resolution image to Audrey Sellers by November 13 for consideration.

Become A Star At The PPAI Expo 2010
Have you ever wanted to be a star? Here's your chance! PPAI is collecting video testimonials. Tell us why you're a member of PPAI and your video may be featured at The PPAI Expo 2010. Be funny, be creative or just be you. But most important, be a star! Send the original video tape or the clip on disc to PPAI – I Want To Be A Star! Attention: Keith Vincent, 3125 Skyway Circle North, Irving, Texas 75038

PPAI Needs Your Olympic Products
The PPAI public relations department is developing a collection of products that promote The Olympic Games. If you've supplied product for the Olympics in the past or are producing products for the upcoming Winter Games, please send your products or high-res photographs to Erica Edwards, PPAI communications coordinator, 3125 Skyway Circle North, Irving, Texas 75038.

Real-Life Fashion Gurus Weigh In On Trends
From perching front-row at couture runway shows to stocking a boutique with the newest designer trends, Sharon Graubard and Gini Swancy know women's fashion. They share what's hot in ladies' apparel next year so you can scope out similar styles in our industry.

The Executive Life
Like most busy professionals, Lynda Gallant, CAS, is just an e-mail away from her colleagues. Whether she's staying on top of her duties as vice president and sales manager at Pickering, Ontario-based supplier Somcan (UPIC: 7205) or answering member questions as board chair for Promotional Product Professionals of Canada (PPPC), e-mail lets her stay in touch and juggle her busy schedule.

Smart HR Practices
The governmental agencies are in place to make us all more diligent in our processes and procedures. However, errors, ignorance, mistakes and negligence will no doubt generate additional funds our government will use in many new ways, and our businesses will pay the price.

A distributor asks: "A client recently found an item online at a lower price than I could quote it. It's not exactly the same item but it's close enough that he's willing to buy it online instead of from me. What can I do to keep his business and how can I avoid this problem in the future?"

What's your answer? E-mail answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by November 13 for possible inclusion in the January issue of PPB magazine.

Answers to this month's question are in. Click here to read advice on setting up guidelines for warehousing imprinted products on behalf of clients.