INDUSTRY NEWS

New Corvest President Plans To Restore Market Share
Jason Miller, who was named president of Largo, Florida, supplier Corvest (UPIC: PARKP011) on Tuesday, says that with new owners in place, he plans to rebuild the multi-million dollar promotional products supplier.

Read more here.

BDA Named Official Promotional Licensee For NASCAR
Woodville, Washington, distributor Bensussen Deutsch & Associates Inc. (BDA) (UPIC: BENS0002) has been designated as an official promotional licensee for NASCAR. BDA will work directly with NASCAR and NASCAR sponsors to develop and execute strategic campaigns to include branded licensed products, consumer promotions and other initiatives to maximize their presence in the sport.

Read more here.

Avaline, Fanda Receive Safe Products Accreditation
The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has awarded accreditation to Parsippany, New Jersey, supplier Avaline (UPIC: AVALINE) and Baldwin Park, California, supplier Fanda Enterprises, Inc. (FAND0001). These firms join 11 other companies that have met the qualifications to achieve QCA accreditation.

Read more here.

Taylor & Grant Hires Bridge Marketing
Taylor & Grant Specialties (UPIC: FOODGIFT) has hired Bridge Marketing Southwest as its exclusive sales agency in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Bridge replaces The Arriaga Group. The contract starts May 1.

St. Regis Crystal Acquires Texas Supplier
Cheektowaga, New York, supplier St. Regis Crystal (UPIC: stregis) has acquired Waxahachie, Texas, supplier The Martin Company (UPIC: MART0004). Financial terms were not disclosed.

Read more here.

Gillman Advertising Specialties Joins Vernon Company
Altamonte Springs, Florida, distributor Gillman Advertising Specialties (UPIC: Gil004) has joined with Newton, Iowa, distributor The Vernon Company (UPIC: Vernon). Gillman and her employees will continue to maintain the Gillman Advertising Specialties corporate identity, while representing The Vernon Company.

R.S. Owens Webinar On Corporate Award Reaches Distributors
A free webinar on the return on investment of corporate awards developed by Chicago, Illinois, supplier R.S. Owens & Co., Inc. (UPIC: RSOWENS) has been attended by more than 300 distributors since it began in January, the company reports. The webinar runs two or three times a month.

Read more here.

REGIONAL NEWS

MiPPA Running Team Links With Leukemia Society
The Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) is sponsoring a running team for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). The two-man team is training to raise funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma and will be running the Bayshore Marathon on May 29 in Traverse City, Michigan. 

Read more here.

ACCOLADES

HALO/Lee Wayne Wins Calendar Awards
Sterling, Illinois, distributor HALO/Lee Wayne Corporation (UPIC: LEEWAYNE) received a series of awards from the Calendar Marketing Association’s National Calendar Awards. The styles are all part of HALO’s line of dated products and include “Images of Earth,” which won the gold award for best contemporary art calendar; “4-H Members and Leaders,” which won the silver award for best non-profit calendar; “Automemories, Sr.,” which won the bronze award for most original calendar; and “Motivational,” which won the merit award for best scenic calendar.

Read more here.

Founder Of Chocolate Inn Represented U.S. In Israeli Games
George Miller, founder of Freeport, New York, supplier Chocolate Inn (UPIC: CHOINN), represented the United States in the Maccabi Games in the Senior/Masters Tennis in Israel last summer.

MAINSTREAM MEDIA

Corp! Magazine Runs Green Article By Slagle
In its April issue, Corp! magazine ran an article on the green movement in promotional products written by PPAI President Steve Slagle, CAE.

To read the article click here.

PPAI LAW

Council Of Medical Specialty Societies Releases Ethic Rules
The Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) last week released a code for appropriate interaction with companies that includes, in part, the promotional products industry.

Read more here.

Safe Harbor Rule Letters Due May 15
PPAI is developing a case to protect the safe harbor rule for those in the promotional products industry who act as independent contractors.

“The Association’s job is to support all of the different models and protect the freedom for our members to use the independent contractor model,” says Anne Lardner, PPAI’s senior manager, public affairs. “Our purpose it not to endorse one business model over another, rather it is to protect all of the options currently available to our members.”

Read more here.

Children’s Products Free Webinar Rescheduled
A free webinar on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) titled “What Is A Children’s Product?” has been rescheduled to 1 pm CDT on April 29 due to technical difficulties. PPAI apologizes for the inconvenience. Susan DeRagon, associate director for toys and premiums with Enfield, Connecticut-based Specialized Technology Resources (STR), will provide an overview of the latest CPSIA proposed rule on factors determining which items are children’s products in this 30-minute webinar.

Read more here.

PPAI NEWS

PPAI Launches Social Media Networking Certification Program
PPAI is launching a social media networking certification program in a five-part webinar series beginning at 10 am CDT on May 11. “PPAI Social Media Launchpad!” covers the internet’s most popular and influential social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr and YouTube. 

Read more here.

PPAI Donates Food To Local Charity
Matt Jack, the community outreach representative for the office of Rep. Kenny Marchant’s (R-Texas), helped PPAI staff deliver 3,804 pounds of food to Irving Cares last Friday. The food was collected during the second and third weeks of the PPAI staff’s annual four-week food drive. This donation brings the staff’s total donation to more than 10,000 pounds of food over the past three years to Irving Cares, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing residents with temporary assistance and training to promote self-sufficiency.

Read and see more here.

Woman Of Achievement Nominations Due May 8
Nomination forms are due May 8 for PPAI’s Woman of Achievement Award, which recognizes someone who has led the way in the advancement of women in the industry, exhibited outstanding leadership and made significant contributions to the industry and her community. 

Read more here.

PPAI Best Of Expo 2010 Webinars Start Tomorrow
The popular Best of Expo four-part webinar educational program starts tomorrow with a presentation by Becky Blair, MAS, on video marketing. Participants can earn 1.0 MAS/CAS point for each interactive 60-minute webinar attended. Cost is $25 for PPAI members, $50 for nonmembers per session.

Read more here.

PPAI Suppliers Achievement Competition Accepting Submissions
The 2011 Suppliers Achievement Award competition is now open and accepting submissions until May 21. Send your most creative 2009 products, sales aids and self promotions to be considered for this prestigious award. Click here to submit entries.

For questions, contact PPAI Awards at Awards@ppai.org or 972-258-3070.

2011 Distinguished Service Award Nomination Forms Available
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to PPAI members who consistently contribute their skills and expertise toward the betterment of the Association. Click here to nominate a candidate for next year’s award. Nominations will be accepted through June 6.

Nominations Open For 2011 Hall Of Fame Award
The highest distinction that the promotional products industry bestows on its professionals is induction into the PPAI Hall of Fame. This award recognizes the long-term involvement and exceptional contributions to PPAI and the industry. Nominations will be accepted through June 1. Click here to nominate a candidate.

PEOPLE NEWS

Dan Moses and Fran Silverman, MAS, have been hired as multi-line sales representatives for Stamford, Connecticut, supplier Jornik Manufacturing Corp. (UPIC: JORNIK). Moses and Silverman will cover New York and New England. Pete Rosica will cover Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.