PPB Newslink 10.19.10

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October 19, 2010 • Share PPB Newslink

Pro Towels Etc. Acquires Superior Towel & Decorating
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, supplier Pro Towels Etc. (UPIC: PROTOWEL) has acquired Camarillo, California, supplier Superior Towel & Decorating (UPIC: SUPP0005). Financial terms were not disclosed, but the acquisition will increase Pro Towels’ sales volume next year by 50 percent, says Kevin Nord, president of Pro Towels Etc. (right) with Robert Strem, former owner of Superior Towel. Read more

PPAI Announces Supplier Star Finalists
PPAI has named 29 supplier members as finalists for the 2011 Supplier Star Awards. Read more

Product Safety Webinar Tomorrow Focuses On Definition Of Children’s Products
Afree, one-hour webinar for PPAI members and nonmembers reviewing theConsumer Product Safety Commission’s final interpretive rule onchildren’s products will be held at 1 pm CDT on Wednesday, October 20.Read more

Towel Specialties To License Board Towelz
Baltimore, Maryland, supplier Towel Specialties (UPIC: TOWLSPEC) has come to a licensing agreement with former competitor, Folsom, California, supplier Board Towelz (UPIC: Towelz). Read more

Bullet Receives QCA Accreditation, Three Other Suppliers Enroll In Program
Miami, Florida, supplier Bullet (UPIC: BULLET), a member of Polyconcept North America, has become accredited through the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit accrediting organization for promotional products industry suppliers. Read more

CMO Council Report Finds Marketing Products Often Stashed, Then Obsolete
Marketers should efficiently manage their supply chains to save money and reduce obsolete materials, according to a recent survey by the Chief Marketing Officers (CMO) Council. Read more

iPROMOTEu Adds 15 Distributors In September
Fifteen promotional products distributors affiliated with iPROMOTEu in September 2010. These new affiliates, in the aggregate, have an estimated annual sales volume of more than $5 million. Read more

Proforma Adds Seven Owners To Network
Cleveland, Ohio, business services provider Proforma (UPIC: Proforma) has added seven new owners to its network. Read more

PPB Again Cited As Best Magazine; PC And PCT Get Top Ratings
For the sixth year, PPAI members who responded to a recent readership survey rated PPB magazine as the most useful industry magazine and ranked it best in overall content among six leading industry publications. Read more

Get A Free Coupon In The Navigator
PPAIsupplier members are encouraged to take advantage of the no-cost couponbuilder in the 2011 edition of The Navigator®, the industry’s mostcomprehensive guide for promotional products suppliers and businessservices companies. Read more

Working Capital Program Receives Strong Initial Feedback
PPAI’s newest program for members, PPAI Working Capital, is receiving a strong response since its launch last week, says John Herman, president and CEO of Cleveland, Ohio-based Promotional Capital, PPAI’s Business Partner in the program. Read more

Members Get October Discount For DistributorSource
PPAI has selected Tango Partners to provide DistributorSource, a virtual consultant and resource bank of downloadable and customizable templates and forms for promotional consultants. Read more

Sign Up Now For Social Media Launchpad! Advanced Program
Continuing on the foundations established with the Social Media Launchpad! series, this three-part live webinar, Social Media Launchpad! Advanced Certificate Program, will be held again starting November 30. Read more

Nineteen From Geiger Earn MAS/CAS Designation
Nineteen employees at Lewiston, Maine, distributor Geiger (UPIC: geiger) received their Master Advertising Specialist (MAS) or Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS) designations after testing at company headquarters on September 28. Read more

FedEx Receives Environment Award
PPAI Business Partner, FedEx, was recognized by The International Charter for its clear commitment to understanding the company’s environmental impact and reducing it. Read more

PC Magazine Debuts New Info Tool For Readers
Promotional Consultant, PPAI’s award-winning online magazine, is listening to its advertising community and providing solutions, too. Read more

PPAI Staff Visit Rep. Sam Johnson
Rep.Sam Johnson (R-Texas) walked into his Richardson, Texas, office lastweek with a promotional product coffee mug in hand for a meeting withPPAI staff, including Paul Bellantone, CAE, executive vice president;Anne Lardner, senior manager of public affairs; and Eme Alberico, publicaffairs coordinator. Read more

Paul Kiewiet, MAS, CIP, has received his Certified Professional Coach designation from Fowler Wainright International Institute of Professional Coaching.

“Coaching is the most efficient and effective means to move from where you are to where you want to be,” says Kiewiet, president of Chicago, Illinois, business services company BrandKiwi, LLC, and a former PPAI board chairman.”It’s easy for us to get stuck or lose our vision. A coach can help one remove the blocks and help clarify one’s focus to achieve success and realize dreams.” Read more

PMANC Hires New Executive Director, Management Company
ThePromotional Marketing Association of Northern California (PMANC) hasnamed MaryAnne Bobrow, CAE, CMP, CMM, a principal in Bobrow &Associates, as its executive director. Read more

Get Your New Products In The Show Daily
What are you debuting at The PPAI Expo 2011? If it’s new, exciting and guaranteed to grab attention, we want to know about it. Send high-resolution images and product descriptions to Audrey Sellers by November 2 for possible inclusion in the Show Daily. Products not selected will be kept on file for possible use in a future issue of PPB magazine.

What Would You Do?
A Supplier Asks: “Everyone keeps telling me I need to get a blog for my business. It seems like a lot of work. Will it really add value to the company, or is it just a bell and whistle?”

What’s Your Answer? E-mail answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue of PPB magazine.