INDUSTRY NEWS

Stincor Promotional Specialties Acquires ELK Corporate Gifts
Toronto, Ontario-based distributor Stincor Van Smith Marketing (UPIC: stincor) has acquired ELK Corporate Gifts (UPIC: elkcorp), also of Toronto, for an undisclosed amount. The merger is part of a series of acquisitions by the company, according to Stincor President Iain Walker. Last year, Stincor added Toronto-based distributor Van Smith Marketing (UPIC: VANS0001), which specializes in business-to-business loyalty rewards programs, to create Stincor Van Smith Marketing.

“We are in the process of adding another group dedicated to eco solutions as well,” Stincor told PPB last week.  “We are achieving our vision of having one of the most dynamic and well-rounded knowledge-based service offerings available in our industry.”

The ELK brand will continue as an SVS Marketing Company.

Incentive Research Foundation Names New President, Moves to St. Louis
Melissa Van Dyke has been named president of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF). She succeeds Frank Katusak, who is leaving the IRF at the end of March. Prior to her appointment, Van Dyke was managing consultant, employee engagement practice, at Maritz (UPIC: MARI0002), a distributor based in Fenton, Missouri. She also has been a senior consultant at Ernst & Young LLP. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and holds a B.A. in economics and international studies.

“I'm pleased to be stepping into this position because the IRF is doing important work at this critical time in the incentive industry,” says Van Dyke. “Those of us who have been buyers of, providers of, or participants in incentive programs know what a powerful motivational tool they can be. With the challenges of the last year, I believe the IRF is well positioned to do crucial work in advancing the science of incentives and educating buyers, providers and business in general on their importance.”

In other news, the IRF is moving its headquarters from New York to St. Louis. Its new office will be located at 100 Chesterfield Business Parkway, Suite 200, St. Louis, Missouri.

Norwood Adds To Its Minnesota Facility
Indianapolis, Indiana-based supplier Norwood Promotional Products (UPIC: NORWOOD) plans to add 45,000 square feet to its facility in Red Wing, Minnesota, according to a story in the Red Wing Republican Eagle newspaper.

Since supplier BIC Graphic USA (UPIC: BIC) bought Norwood last July, the company has been reviewing operations at all of its locations, the article says.

Tru Art Develops Green Website
Iowa City, Iowa, supplier Tru Art Advertising Calendars (UPIC: TRUART) has introduced a website focused on the advancement of paper-based promotional products, including the advertising calendar, using green methods. On its new site, Tru Art carries information on green marketing and sustainability, while debunking paper myths.

“Tru Art provides the added value of ‘green’ promotional products without adding to the customer’s cost,” says David Bywater, MAS, Tru Art’s president and general manager. “We believe customers who care about the environment enough to use earth-friendly advertising should not pay a penalty for their efforts.”

REGIONAL NEWS

CAPPA And MiPPA Become SAGE Affiliates
The Corridor Area Promotional Products Association (CAPPA) and Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) have become SAGE Affiliates.

As SAGE Affiliates, members of the two regional associations are entitled to discounts on SAGE services.

PEOPLE NEWS

Hauppauge, New York-based supplier Liqui-Mark Corp.(UPIC: liqui) has hired Jo Ann Linden as vice president of sales and marketing for Liqui-Mark’s Promotional Products Division. Linden was vice president of Dri Mark Products (UPIC: DRIMARK), a supplier based in Port Washington, New York.

Distributors Stanley Fine and Michel Egnal have joined the Proforma family as co-owners of Proforma Fine Incentives.

Neenah, Wisconsin-based Adventures In Advertising (UPIC: ADVINADV) has added seven owners in January to its affiliate network. The new affiliates are:
• Deborah Antonucci, owner of Virginia Beach, Virginia-based Pegasus Promotions
• Valerie Backo, owner of Hermitage, Pennsylvania-based Creative Advantages (UPIC:  valpro)
• John and Terri Conti, owners of Ponchatoula, Louisiana-based Manatee Productions (UPIC: MANAP0001)
• Ted Davies, owner of Edina, Minnesota-based Paradigm Partners (UPIC: coach)
• John “Hu” Dunn, owner of Le Claire, Iowa-based The Necessary Company (UPIC: NECCO)
• Melissa McCauley, owner of Charleston, South Carolina-based Loco Branding Solutions
• Rod Toomey, owner of Rochester, Minnesota-based Adlers Promotions

ACCOLADES

Youngest CAS/MAS Honored In Canada
Evan Krofchick, MAS, was honored at the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada (PPPC) 2010 National Convention General Assembly for being the youngest MAS in Canada.

Krofchick, who is 28 years old and the president of supplier Artmetal (UPIC: ARTMETAL), spoke at the general assembly on the value of the MAS/CAS programs. He earned both his CAS and MAS in less than two years, before he was 26.

Ward Promotional Wins Modesto’s Chamber Award
For the second time, Modesto, California-based distributor Ward Promotional Marketing Solutions (UPIC: WardP341) has won the Modesto Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award.

“What a terrific tribute!” says Laura Ward, founder and CEO. “We work very hard for our clients and have been rewarded with great business, and now to be honored by our peers in the business community really makes these rougher business cycles worth all of the extra effort.”

Cutter & Buck Win Supplier Of The Year Award
Kirkland, Washington-based distributors Image Source (UPIC: IMAGESCE) and Branded Solutions by Edgar Martinez (UPIC: BrandedS) have selected Seattle, Washington, supplier Cutter & Buck (UPIC: CUTT0001) as their Supplier of the Year for 2009. The award measures criteria such as customer service, quality of product, delivery and overall value.

PPAI NEWS

FedEx Exec To Speak At PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference
Laurie A. Tucker, senior vice president of corporate marketing for FedEx Services, will serve as the keynote speaker at PPAI’s sixth annual Women’s Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, July 26-29 at the Omni Mandalay Hotel.

Joining FedEx in 1978, Tucker and her team are responsible for building, shaping and managing the FedEx brand, one of the most recognized brands worldwide. A marketer and a mom, Tucker will share how she juggles work and home life. She also will cover how Fortune 100 companies view the promotional products industry, how products are being used and what future opportunities are available.

“It is an incredible opportunity to have Laurie as our keynote speaker,” says Melissa Hendrick, PPAI director of professional development and business media. “Given her experience with such a noted brand, as well as her perspective as an end buyer, she will bring a very unique and valuable point of view that is sure to motivate and challenge attendees to look at their business in a new light.”

The conference will feature several speakers in more than 10 breakout sessions covering critical topics such as managing conflict, health and fitness and savvy self-promotion. Attendees also will have a chance to enjoy assorted on-site and offsite networking events as well as some leisure activities.

Early bird registration is available until February 28. For additional information or to register for the event, click here. To learn more about PPAI’s professional development premier event sponsorship opportunities, click here.

Second Room Open For Independent Contractor Webinar On February 24
Because of popular demand, a second room has been opened to allow for more to register for PPAI’s free webinar on independent contractor issues at 1 pm CST on February 24.

John Satagaj, PPAI’s legal counsel, will present best practices to make an informed decision on whether to engage an independent contractor or hire an employee, to help evaluate whether to conduct current relationships with employees and independent contractors in a manner that might be upheld under scrutiny and to prepare companies in the event their relationships are challenged by government agencies.

Join the free 60-minute PPAI webinar here.

Sixty-Three Professionals Earn MAS/CAS Designation
PPAI congratulates the newest groups of promotional products professionals to achieve the Master Advertising Specialist (MAS) and Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS) designations.

MAS/CAS Certification designations are the industry benchmarks of professionalism, demonstrating the designees’ highest commitment to the promotional products business and building solid foundations for career advancement.

Click here to see the full list.

PPAI LAW

PPAI Requests Safety Incentive Program Case Studies
PPAI is calling on promotional products professionals to help build a case in support of safety incentive programs. The federal government is beginning to scrutinize safety incentive programs. Some government agencies are concerned that safety incentive programs might encourage some individuals to fail to report on-the-job injuries in order to earn the incentives linked to the programs.

Currently there are no bills or regulations linked to this scrutiny, but PPAI wants to be prepared to respond quickly and effectively. If your company has any statistics, case studies or programs that will help PPAI bolster the argument that safety incentive programs, when properly and professionally executed, can make workplaces safer, contact Anne Lardner, senior manager, public affairs for PPAI at 972-258-3041 or AnneL@ppai.org.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Solar Advertising Donating One Percent Of Profits To Water.Org
Supplier Solar Advertising (UPIC: solar), based in Castle Rock, Colorado, has made a commitment to donate one percent of profits this year to Water.org, a  nonprofit that works to bring clean water and sanitation to countries in need.

Co-founded by water and sanitation advisor and entrepreneur Gary White and actor Matt Damon, Water.org has transformed thousands of communities in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

During the past year, one of the organization’s larger projects has taken place in Haiti, where they are currently working to re-build clean water and sanitation sources. Each year, 3.575 million people die from water-related disease and 884 million people lack access to safe water supplies.

3M Gives $1 Million To Indiana University
Indiana University's Kelley School of Business has received $1 million from St. Paul, Minnesota-based 3M Corporation (UPIC: POST-IT), parent company of 3M Promotional Markets Department, and its foundation for a new professional sales and communications lab for students.

The gift will be used to create a lab equipped with state-of-the-art technology that will enable students to receive useful feedback on their efforts to improve presentation, listening and adaptive selling skills.

MAINSTREAM MEDIA

Supplier Adco Litho Line (UPIC: ADCO) of Broadview, Illinois, and Erie, Pennsylvania, distributor Kraus & Sons (UPIC: KRAUS) were featured in an article on museum attendance tags in Fast Company magazine. Click here to read the article.