PPB Newslink 11.17.09

November 17, 2009

THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES

Sanford B2B To Begin Shutting Down Wisconsin Facility In 2010 Grab Great Housing Deals For The PPAI Expo PPAI Team Goes Shopping For A Good Cause Members Get The Message Out About Sunshine Act Boxercraft Donates Apparel To Children's Hospital�

LarLu/Display-Tec Combines Catalogs For 2010
Winona, Minnesota-based supplier LarLu/Display-Tec (UPIC: LARLU) is combining its two product lines into one catalog for 2010.

LarLu acquired Display-Tec in 2004 and has published separate catalogs since then. Joe Durand, MAS, LarLu senior vice president, says customer feedback and a desire to make both lines more accessible prompted the change to one catalog.

Click here to read more.

Sanford B2B To Begin Shutting Down Wisconsin Facility In 2010
Janesville, Wisconsin-based supplier Sanford B2B (UPIC: SANFORD) has notified the state of Wisconsin it will begin closing its Janesville facility at the start of 2010. The facility�s production operations are being moved to its plant in Mexico, a move that PPB first reported in August. Administrative offices will move to Oak Brook, Illinois.

The closure, which eliminates 140 local jobs, is expected to be finalized sometime in March 2010. The Sanford plant in Janesville was once part of Parker Pen Co.; in 1993 it was acquired by Gillette and then sold to Newell Rubbermaid, which made Parker part of its Sanford division.

Custom Logos Marks 20 Years, Adds New Partners
Now celebrating 20 years in business, San Diego, California-based distributor Custom Logos (UPIC: 4logos) has added five new partners, all current employees, to its ownership team.

"The new partners bring a fresh perspective and a contagious energy that is being felt companywide," says co-owner Jeff Golumbuk.

Click here to read more about the new partners.

Enterprise Engagement Alliance Announces 2010 Networking Expo
The Enterprise Engagement Alliance will hold its first annual EEA Networking Expo June 3-5, 2010 in Rye Brook, New York.

The event is designed to help organizations profit from engaging their key audiences, giving attendees a unique opportunity to get to know one another as they engineer new ways to use rewards and recognition to drive performance.

The EEA Networking Expo will include interactive educational sessions, luncheons, dinners, exhibits and receptions. The expo also features a hosted buyer program for corporate end users, incentive merchandise buyers and salespeople to address the role of non-cash rewards in the world of engagement.

Incentive Marketing Association Announces 2010 Board
Jimmy Beyer, vice president of business development for Miami, Florida-based Helix Global Solutions, has been elected to serve as the 2010 president of the board of directors for the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA).

In addition to Beyer, the IMA board also elected officers and board members for the 2010 term. Click here to see the new officers and board directors.

QCA Director Attends Safety Summit With CPSC Leaders
D E Fenton, executive director of compliance for the Chicago, Illinois-based Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), attended the Third Biennial United States-China Consumer Product Safety Summit in China, October 21-26.

The symposium between the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and its counterpart Chinese agency, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People�s Republic of China (AQSIQ) was held in Wuxi, Shanghai, and Beijing, China.

Click here to read more.

JJI International To Produce Movado Clocks
Cranston, Rhode Island-based supplier JJI International (UPIC: JJIInt) is partnering with Movado Group, Inc. to create, manufacture and distribute clocks for the company.

JJI and Movado will also collaborate on the design and production of
new products such as fine writing instruments, fine small leather goods
and executive gifts.

PPAI Announces 2010 Web Award Nominees
Nominees for the 2010 PPAI Web Awards have been selected. Distributor and supplier members were chosen for creative and effective promotional products websites in five categories. Click here to see the nominees.

The winners will be announced during an online presentation January 7, 2010. Both nominees and winners will also be recognized at The PPAI Expo 2010 awards presentation on January 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Grab Great Housing Deals
For The PPAI Expo
PPAI wants to make sure attendees at The PPAI Expo 2010 in January get the best deals Las Vegas has to offer. Through its housing partner, PPAI is offering attendees the great rates at hotels in and around Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Click here for rates, or for more information and to book a room, call PPAI�s housing partner, Ambassadors, at 800-648-0007. You can also register online at www.theppaiexpo.com.

Take Note Of PPAI Webinar Schedule Changes, Additions
PPAI has made scheduling changes and additions to its latest series of webinars:

"Your First Meeting With A Prospect: Preparation and Execution," presented by David Fellman, has been moved to Wednesday, November 18, at 1 pm CST. Click here to register.

"Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act: Product Safety Requirements," presented by Susan DeRagon, has been rescheduled for November 23 from 1:30-2:30 pm CST. Click here to register.

"Physician Payments Sunshine Act," presented by Anne Lardner, PPAI senior manager of public affairs, will be November 30 at�1 pm CST. Click here to register.

Meeting News Tells The Story
Of The Expo
An October issue of Meeting News tells the story, in brief, of the evolution of The PPAI Expo, including its relocation to Las Vegas after nearly 30 years in Dallas.

"The advantage of being in a set location for consecutive years, and our desire is to be at Mandalay Bay for many years to come, is that you don't have to sell the site or city," says PPAI Expositions Director Darel Cook in the story.

Among the changes that have come about in recent years are upgrades such as online registration technology, on-site badge scanning and an online pre-show scheduling tool.

Bellantone, Hendrick Discuss Education With Supplier
PPAI Executive Vice President Paul Bellantone, CAE, and PPAI Director of Professional Development and Business Media, Melissa Hendrick, recently visited Mary Dobsch, MAS, president of Washington, Missouri-based supplier The Chest (UPIC: thechest), to discuss member benefits such as education as well as promotional products business and marketing.

Click here to read more.

PPAI Team Goes Shopping
For A Good Cause
This year PPAI team members gave their all for the organization�s Thanksgiving food drive benefitting local food bank Irving Cares. Led by the community services committee, employees donated more than 760 pounds of food. Last year the office donated 273 pounds of food.

"Irving Cares was so thankful when we delivered the food--they call PPAI one of their angels," says Pamela Fields Webb, committee member and managing editor of Promotional Consultant. "Everyone participated and contributed--designing posters, handing out bags, shopping, organizing food--to making this food drive a success."

The donations also included $250 in gift cards, an additional 142 cans of chili and stew and $40 in cash contributions.

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Members Get The Message Out About Sunshine Act
In the past 30 days, PPAI members have sent 1,276 e-mails through PPAI LAW, the Association�s legislative website, expressing their views on the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. This number brings the yearly total of e-mails through the site to 7,035.

Currently, the top five states seeing advocacy are Texas, Illinois, California, Florida and Pennsylvania.

Click here to read more.

CPSC To Hold Public Workshop On Product Testing Rules
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will hold a free public workshop on CPSIA product testing at its Maryland headquarters December 10-11.

Anne Lardner, PPAI senior manager of public affairs, will attend the workshop as a representative of the Association, but PPAI members are also encouraged to attend.

To register, visit www.cpsc.gov and click on the "What�s Hot" link near the bottom of the page, then select "CPSC Staff Workshop: Product Testing."

Genetic Information Act Goes Into Effect This Week
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008, which was signed into law last May, goes into effect on November 21. This act is intended to prevent employers from discriminating against individuals based on genetic tests and information.

Click here to read more.

PPAI Taking brand. To PROMOTIONS EAST
PPAI) has just announced a partnership with the Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) to bring PPAI�s brand., a recognition, awards and engagement showcase, to PROMOTIONS EAST 2010, June 6-9 at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Launched at The PPAI Expo 2009, the brand. showcase will start the year at The PPAI Expo 2010 and will make a stop on both coasts�first on the East Coast at PROMOTIONS EAST and then on the West Coast at the Specialty Advertising Association of California' SAAC Show in Long Beach, California.

Click here to read more.

OPPA Delegates Visit With D.C. Senators
On October 26, a delegation from Ohio Promotional Professionals Association traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit with Sens. Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich to discuss concerns about the effects of healthcare legislation on promotional products.

LaDonna Belcher, OPPA executive director, Eric Ekstrand, MAS, and Donna Vorce, RAC delegate and legislative liaison, along with PPAI lobbyist Robert Drummer, visited with aides from the senators� offices and with staff members of the House and Senate chairs for the Committee on Small Business.

Click here to read more.

Finn Graphics Names Warmuth Sales And Marketing Director
Cincinnati, Ohio-based supplier Finn Graphics (UPIC: FINNLINE) has named Beth Warmuth director of sales and marketing.

Octagon Promotes Andrade, Mazel And Shahum
Norwalk, Connecticut-based distributor Octagon Promotions has promoted Rick Shahum to account director.�Additionally, Edward Andrade and Stefanie Mazel�have been promoted to senior account executive.

The Vernon Company�Names Ballew Account Executive��
Newton, Iowa-based distributor The Vernon Company (UPIC: Vernon) has named Larry Ballew as an account executive in its eastern region.

Ballew, a five-year industry veteran, comes to Vernon from distributor HPI Direct, where he specialized in aviation, transportation and wireless industries.

Boxercraft Donates Apparel
To Children�s Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia-based supplier Boxercraft (UPIC: BOXER) recently donated more than 600 apparel items to Children�s Healthcare of Atlanta to replace clothing many patients lose when they are first admitted.

Boxercraft�s donation included fleece shorts, flannel pants, shirts, hoodies, blankets and bags.

As a nonprofit healthcare organization, Children�s runs largely on donations, and this is one of the largest bulk donations of new apparel that Children�s has received.

TRG Employees Raise More Than $63,000 For United Way
Employees of St. Louis, Missouri-based supplier TRG Group (UPIC: TRG) raised more than $63,000 for United Way during its annual campaign. TRG exceeded its company goal by 92 percent, a goal employees established for themselves based on prior-year donations.

"We�re extremely thankful for the generous donations from our employees. It shows that even in these trying times for everyone, there is still room to help others in greater need. I�m very proud of everyone," says Andrew Spellman, VP of corporate market sales.

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Facebook Question Of The Week
Which companies would you like to see exhibit at brand.?

Post your responses to PPAI's Facebook page.

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This week's Industry Show features the recent Special Markets Dialogue, as well as holiday gifts.

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Take A Swing At Golf Products
If you�re planning a golf tournament, golf-themed campaign or just need some great gifts for golfers, don�t miss the February issue of PPB. It�s packed with tees, clubs, putters, bags, divot tools, towels, umbrellas and lots of golf-themed accessories. For consideration, get your product descriptions and high-resolution images to Audrey Sellers by December 4.

Got Golfwear?
We�re looking for the newest golf apparel to feature in the February issue of PPB. If you have caps, jackets, sport shirts, vests and windshirts that are great for the greens, send apparel descriptions and high-resolution images to Audrey Sellers for possible inclusion. December 4 is the submission deadline.�

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 community service project. Send high-resolution photos and a description of what�s taking place and who�s pictured to Snapshots@ppai.org by December 4.

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. 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.

Online Adjustments
Remember when we first began transitioning from camera-ready artwork to digital artwork? It was a rocky time for everyone. There were no clear rules, and as a result the imprints suffered and there was a lot of confusion. PCs were competing with Macs, platforms were not easily crossed and people couldn�t open each other�s files. We�ve come a long way since then.

Prepping For Tradeshow Season
Marc and Mim Goldberg, owners of Marketech, a consultancy specializing in exhibit marketing and training, answer common questions about training sales staff to effectively work a booth.

Bags Create Buzz For Social Network
When Michelle Obama, Oprah and hoards of other high-profile people are on the guest list for an event, the promotional giveaways better fit the occasion.

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 20 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.

3125 Skyway Circle North
Irving, Texas 75038
Phone: 888-I-AM-PPAI
Fax: 972-258-3012