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INDUSTRY NEWS
Record Rain Closes Companies In Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee, distributor Imagination Branding (UPIC: IMAG0019) shut down its headquarters building because of lack of power after record rainfall hit the city over the weekend, according to Michael Mason, chief executive officer of the company. Mason, who works out of the company’s Dallas office, says he does not know if the Nashville building has experienced flooding or when it will reopen.
Read more here.
Norwood Names New Sales Management Team
Clearwater, Florida, supplier Norwood (UPIC: NORWOOD) and Tampa, Florida, supplier BIC Graphic USA (UPIC: BIC) named their new sales management team at their first joint sales and trade marketing meeting held in Tampa last week.
Read more here.
BDA To Acquire Evigna; Named NCAA Vendor
Woodinville, Washington, distributor Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, Inc. (BDA) (UPIC: BENS0002) has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Madison Heights, Michigan, distributor Evigna (UPIC: TheBee59). The deal is expected to close in May; financial terms are undisclosed.
Read more here.
Admints & Zagabor Aquires Yummy Photo
Bellmawr, New Jersey, supplier Admints & Zagabor (UPIC: ADMINTS) acquired Watsonville, California, supplier Yummy Photo (UPIC: yummy) gourmet food gifts.
“We are very excited to add the delicious products of Yummy Photo to our company,” says Brett Hersh, president of Admints & Zagabor. “Yummy Photo has built a reputation of high quality food products with first class decorating that will be a compliment to our expanding gourmet food gift line.”
Gill Studios Partners With ScanLife
Shawnee Mission, Kansas, supplier Gill Studios, Inc. (UPIC: gill) has partnered with ScanLife, a global leader in mobile barcode solutions, to offer 2-D mobile barcodes and discounted code creation on a variety of Gill-line products. 2-D barcodes allow customers to use their smart phones to access content.
Proforma Awarded Large Healthcare Contract
Raleigh, North Carolina, distributor Proforma Promographix (UPIC: pgxinc) was awarded an agreement for service awards and related promotional items by Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, the group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc. Premier serves more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 64,000 healthcare sites.
Proforma Promographix will provide incentive and recognition award programs, as well as promotional products and corporate logoed apparel.
Distributor Sales Drop Not As Big As Other Media
Distributor sales of promotional products tumbled for the second consecutive year, according to PPAI’s 2009 Annual Estimate of Distributor Sales, but not as much as other media.
Distributors reported 2009 sales of $15,638,571,468, a 13.61-percent decline over 2008 sales.
Read more here.
ACCOLADES
Sweda Receives 2009 Supplier Of The Year Award From Spartan
City of Industry, California, supplier Sweda Company, LLC (UPIC: SWEDA) was named 2009 Supplier of the Year by Oakdale, Minnesota, distributor Spartan Promotional Group, Inc. (UPIC: SPAR0001). The award, presented to Chris Orcutt, Sweda’s national sales manager, at Spartan’s annual awards banquet last week, was given for Sweda’s responsiveness to requests from Spartan sales and management, excellent sales and customer service, innovative contests and the company’s weekly specials, which help inspire the sales teams and encourage sales.
PEOPLE NEWS
Linda Hamrick has joined Mason, Ohio, distributor Touchstone (UPIC: touchstn) as a senior account executive. Hamrick is a Certified Advertising Specialist with 25 years of industry experience, including previously owning her own promotional products business.
T. Reagan Holm, CAS, has been named president and chief operating officer of Fairfield, New Jersey, supplier Points of Light (UPIC: 1PTSOLGT). Previously, Holm was president of Celina, Ohio, suppliers Visions Awards and Awardcraft, and vice president and general manager of Washington, Missouri, supplier Hazel Promotional Products. An active industry volunteer, Holm has served on the boards of directors for both PPAI and the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF).
Jeremy Lentz has been named vice president of client development at Dallas, Texas, supplier Senator Promotional Group USA (UPIC: DART). Lentz will oversee the customer service and art departments.
Lentz has worked in the promotional products industry for seven years and was previously with Senator as director of end-user marketing in 2008. Previously, he was director of vendor relations for Zorch International.
Dean Truitt, formerly president and chief operating officer of Dayton, Ohio, distributor WorkflowOne (UPIC: SF00001), has been promoted to chief executive officer.
“Since October 2008, Dean has served in senior leadership roles,” says Dave Davis, chairman and CEO of Workflow Management and senior managing director of Perseus, LLC. “With his depth and experience in executive leadership and restructuring companies, he has positioned WorkflowOne as a successful and competitive company within the industry.”
Under Truitt’s leadership, WorkflowOne was named “Top Distributor of 2009” by Print Professional Magazine.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
SnugZ Donates Bracelets, Moves Headquarters
Salt Lake City, Utah, supplier SnugZ USA (UPIC: SNUGZUSA) celebrated the third annual Pay It Forward Day on April 29. The day is in recognition of the Pay It Forward movement, inspired by the book by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Read more here.
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IN MEMORIAM
H. Ted Olson, MAS, PPAI President Emeritus, Funeral Held Today
Services for H. Ted Olson, MAS, president emeritus of PPAI, were held at 11 am CDT today at Calvary Church in Irving, Texas. Olson, 81, passed away April 28 after a short illness.
Read more here.
PPAI LAW
Happy Meal Toys Banned in California County
Santa Clara County, California, officials will today begin banning toys and other promotions found in high-calorie children’s meals at fast food restaurants, unless the restaurants meet nutritional guidelines approved today by the county Board of Supervisors.
Read more here.
Healthcare Law Includes Tax Credit, Form 1099 Requirement
Two federal tax pieces of the healthcare reform legislation passed last month are already having an impact on business—a small-business tax credit and additional 1099 reporting.
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. If you are an independent contractor, tell PPAI why you like being self-employed in less than 500 words. All entries will be eligible for a drawing and the winner will receive an iPad. Entries (both written and video) are due no later than May 15.
Read more here.
Next Product Safety Webinar Covers State Regulations
PPAI will hold its free monthly Product Safety Webinar at 1 pm CDT on May 27. This month’s 30-minute webinar will provide an overview of current and proposed state regulations—including California Proposition 65, the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, BPA and proposed regulations on a variety of chemicals.
Read more here.
PPAI NEWS
PPAI Launches First Social Media Networking Certificate Program
There are just 20 slots left in the first certificate-based webinar series on social media networking to be launched by PPAI. The five-part webinar series begins at 10 am CDT next Tuesday, 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 2009 Annual Report Available Online
PPAI has released its 2009 Annual Report, which includes a video for the first time.
Read more here.
OrderTrax2 Now Integrated With OrderStream Pro
PPAI’s OrderTrax2, the first online order processing system for the promotional products industry, is now integrated with Vortex Business Software’s OrderStream Pro, a web-based business management tool that unifies and streamlines business operations.
Read more here.
Expo 2011 Exhibit Space Contract Available
The PPAI Expo 2011 exhibit space contract is ready to download at the PPAI Exhibitor Resource Center. Everything to get signed up is right at your fingertips from any location with an internet connection. Use your Show Access Code at the Exhibitor Resource Center to access your personalized exhibit space contract and send it back by the June 1 early space deadline.
Questions? Call PPAI at 888-426-7724.
New MAS/CAS Designees Named
Three PPAI members have recently received MAS or CAS designation. They include:
Donna Ferron, CAS, Caldon, Ontario, supplier ProForma Creative Advertising
John Krause, CAS, Lewiston, Maine, distributor Geiger (UPIC: geiger)
Mary Elizabeth Murphy, MAS, S.T.A.R. Resources
Read more about MAS/CAS opportunities here.
Woman Of Achievement Nominations Due Saturday
Nomination forms are due Saturday, 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 Continue
The popular Best of Expo four-part webinar educational program continued tomorrow at 10 am with a presentation by Mark Graham, the founder of RIGHTSLEEVE, on getting connected with social media. Click here to register for session two.
Read more here.
PPAI Suppliers Achievement Competition Accepting Submissions
The 2011 Suppliers Achievement Award competition is 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.
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. To nominate a candidate for next year’s award, go to here. 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. To nominate a candidate, go here.
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