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INDUSTRY NEWS
Americo Manufacturing Expands Operations
Supplier Americo Manufacturing Co. (UPIC: AMERICO), based in Acworth, Georgia, has acquired a 152,000-square-foot facility in Cartersville, Georgia, for $4 million.
The new facility will house Americo’s manufacturing and sales for its expanding PromoMatting division. In addition, Americo has invested $150,000 in equipment for a new line.
Click here to read more.
Ash City Names New COO
Brent Rebus has joined Richmond Hills, Ontario-based supplier Ash City (UPIC: ash0001) as chief operating officer. Previously Rebus was president of StorageTek Canada. He has also worked with Cisco Systems Canada Limited and IBM Canada Limited.
David Woods, who previously held this position, is now COO of GH Group of Companies Ltd., the parent company of Ash City. The GH Group will focus on a portfolio of investments ranging from ownership of private/public companies, hedge funds and real estate instruments.
Dard Products Reports Increase In Sales, Adds Employees
Supplier Dard Products Inc. (UPIC: TagMastr) of Evanston, Illinois, has added 12 employees to its factory as a result of a 15-percent increase in sales over last year, according to Michelle Michelson, director of sales and marketing.
“There’s been an increase in orders from the pharmaceutical and financial sector that have warranted hiring more people,” she told PPB Monday. The Evanston-based factory, which is third-generation operated, also celebrates 60 years in business this year.
BCS Apparel From Distributor In Texas Is Headed To Haiti
Nearly $300,000 worth of BCS championship clothing from the University Co-op at the University of Texas in Austin (UT) will be donated this week to the Haiti relief effort.
The apparel, purchased through College Station, Texas distributor C.C. Creations (UPIC: CCC1980), was to be sold in the event that UT beat the University of Alabama in the January 7 BCS championship game. UT lost to Alabama 37 to 21.
University Co-op spokeswoman Casey Ellis says 13,000 shirts valued at $20 each and 1,000 caps valued at $22 each will be shipped to Haiti to help with relief efforts after the country’s devastating earthquake on January 12.
Thanks A Dozen Moves
Fenton, Missouri, suppliers Thanks A Dozen (UPIC: Thnxadzn) and Brandelope (UPIC: BRANDLPE) have moved to 1722 Chase Drive, Fenton, Missouri 63026.
The companies can be found on Twitter @ThxADznBrndlope and Facebook under Thanks A Dozen and Brandelope.
PPAI LAW
Members Urged To Take Action On Colorado, New York Proposals
While the national debate on healthcare may be stalled for the moment, states are starting to take over where the federal government has stopped.
Last week, Colorado introduced a bill that is virtually identical to the proposed Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PPSA). New York Gov. David Paterson is proposing new, tougher prohibitions on pharmaceutical companies. Both require a response from PPAI members.
Click here to read more.
PEOPLE NEWS
Distributor Best Promotions, Inc. (UPIC: BEST) of Sherman Oaks, California, has added Leslie Shepherd as account executive; Valerie Bennington, executive assistant; Maggie Sahakian, production coordinator; Jenna Peak, research and sales assistant; and Gisella Torres, receptionist.
St. Paul, Minnesota-based supplier Crystal D (UPIC: CRYSTALD) has named Mike Irvine vice president of operations.
Additionally, Jen Contreras has been named customer service manager, Randy Givens has been named supply chain manager, Emily Garzon has been hired as an order manager and Corey Wilson has been hired as an awards advisor account manager for the south and central regions.
Cleveland, Ohio-based distributor Proforma (UPIC: PROFORMA) has added eight new owners to its network:
Terry Allen, Proforma Web & Print Solutions, Belpre, Ohio; Adam Freidus and Harris Freidus, Proforma Blue Star Promotions (UPIC: BSPromo), Glen Head, New York; Stephanie Lerude, Proforma Executive Giftsource (UPIC: EXECP009), Reno, Nevada; Sandy Dean, Proforma SKD Solutions, Hatfield, Pennsylvania; Craig McPhail, Proforma Incentive Specialties, Stoney Creek, Ontario; Andy Mealor, Proforma Ascension Marketing Group, Macon, Georgia; Jim Shields, Proforma Premier Promotional Products, Scottsdale, Arizona; Alan Snider, Proforma Best Ad Buys, Commack, New York.
Las Vegas, Nevada, supplier Visstun (UPIC: VISSTUN) has hired Yunita Hoo as marketing coordinator.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
ActNow Golf Tourney Raises More Than $100,000
Alpharetta, Georgia-based supplier ActNow Media Inc. (UPIC: ACTNOW) has sponsored the JR Scramble golf tournament, which has raised more than $100,000 for three Georgia-based Junior Golf organizations over the past five years. The event was for boys and girls age 10-17.
Industry suppliers who donated to the tournament include World Wide Lines (UPIC: WORLDWID), based in Covington, Tennessee; Leprechaun Promotions (UPIC: 1199), based in Norcross, Georgia; and Vitronic Promotional Group (UPIC: ACHIEVER), based in Mason, Ohio.
MediaTree Exceeds Tree-Planting Goals
Parsippany, New Jersey-based supplier MediaTree (UPIC: tni) reports that 113,828 trees have been planted in 16 global reforestation projects as a result of a promotional products industry challenge that began in October 2008. The challenge was to plant 100,000 trees through its Seed-the-Future Tree Cards. For every 10 cards ordered through 2009, MediaTree pledged to plant one tree.
MediaTree also recently forged a relationship with The Arbor Day Foundation in an effort to include tree plantings within the United States.
PeerNet Group Donates $5,000 To Haiti Relief Efforts
The PeerNet Group (UPIC: PeerNet), an Alexandria, Virginia-based alliance of promotional products and marketing companies, donated $5,000 to the American Red Cross for the Haiti Relief and Development Fund.
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PPAI NEWS
Legislative Education And Action Day Planned For March
Legislative Education & Action Day, the first legislative day for the promotional products industry, will be held March 23-24 in Washington, D.C.
The trip will allow promotional products professionals to educate Congress on industry-critical issues as well as on the power, impact and job-generating value of promotional products.
Click here to read more.
PPAI Receives Media Contest Award
PPAI won a silver award at the Association Trends 2009 All-Media contest for its Speaker in a Box program. Those who created the program included PPAI’s Kip Eads, CAE, Laura McKinney, Cassandra Johnson, Gabriel DeWitt and Khris Harris.
The competition had more than 425 entries this year and 89 winners. Winners will be honored at the 2010 Salute to Association Excellence Luncheon on February 23 at The Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. Each winning entry will be displayed in the Winners' Gallery at the event, as well as on the TRENDS website.
PPAI Offers Free Webinar On CPSIA, Tracking Labels
Wednesday's free webinar on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) has received overwhelming response by members. More than 300 members have signed up or are on a waiting list.
The 30-minute webinar, “CPSIA Compliance: What Do Distributors Need To Ask Suppliers?,” will focus on what distributors need to know, ask and do in order to comply with CPSIA.
Susan DeRagon, associate director for toys and premiums with Specialized Technology Resources (STR), will address the law and its implications including testing, tracking, reporting and compliance issues. Click here to register.
The webinar will also be posted online next week for viewing at www.ppailaw.org.
A second free webinar will be held at 1 pm CST on March 3. “Product Safety: Focus On Tracking Labels,” for products intended for children ages 12 and younger, will offer guidance on best practices in tracking labels and how to comply with this requirement. Register here.
Webinar To Address Independent Contractor Issues
Both Washington lawmakers and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have taken a renewed interest in the classification of individuals as employees or independent contractors.
To learn more about existing rules, regulations and best practices—as well as ways to make your voice heard in Washington—join PPAI for a free webinar at 1 pm CST on February 24.
“This webinar is a must-attend event for any PPAI member who engages independent contractors,” says Steve Slagle, CAE, PPAI president and CEO.
Click here to read more.
Get Your Internships Posted
On AMA’s Job Board
Do you have a summer or fall internship opportunity available at your company? Post the internship details to the PPAI Facebook page or e-mail them to EricaE@ppai.org and PPAI will repost it to the American Marketing Association’s Marketing Career Network job board.
The board is made up of 47 partner organizations, including the Business Marketing Association, American Advertising Federation, Advertising Research Foundation and Direct Marketing Association.
PPAI Seeks Presenters For The PPAI Expo 2011
The PPAI Professional Development department is asking members to submit ideas on topics that offer a diversity of learning experiences for the PPAI Expo 2011, January 10-14, 2011, in Las Vegas.
Presentations are evaluated by members of the PPAI Professional Development group. Deadline for submitting proposals is March 12. Applicants will be notified by June 15. Click here for more information.
February PPAI Member Advantage—iCLIPART Discount This month’s Member Advantage provides an additional five percent off already discounted member rates to PPAI’s Business Partner iCLIPART, a web-based collection of more than 7.8 million images.
iCLIPART gives instant access to clip art, photos, fonts, sounds, video, web graphics and animation with features that include high-quality vector formats, royalty-free selections, unlimited downloads and no per-image fees.
New subscriber packages range from $35.59 to $210.19 for a one-year subscription, which includes the five percent discount for February on top of a 25-percent regular member discount. Renewing members typically receive a 45-percent discount.
To purchase a subscription, contact PPAI’s Blake Bozeman at BlakeB@ppai.org to get the promotional codes for new subscribers or renewals.
ACCOLADES
PPPC Presents 100-Plus Awards During Annual Tradeshow
Promotional Product Professionals of Canada (PPPC) handed out more than 100 awards during its National Trade Show in Toronto in January, where it welcomed the highest number of visitors ever, with 3,479 visitors and products featured in 484 booths.
Award-winners included National Distributor of the Year, Accolade Reaction Promotion Group (UPIC: REAC0002) of Ottawa, Ontario, and Gold Supplier of the Year, Leed’s (UPIC: LEEDS) of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. For the complete list of winners, click here.
MAINSTREAM MEDIA
Lennarson Article Featured In Premium Incentive Products
An article by PPAI Immediate Past Board Chair Sherri Lennarson, MAS, titled “Seven Ways A Promotional Consultant Makes You a Better Marketer” appeared in the January/February edition of Premium Incentive Products. Click here to read the article.
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