PPB Newslink 1.17.12

January 17, 2012 PPAI Staff PPB NewslinkLeave a Reply

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The Promotional Products Industry On Display At PSI In Düsseldorf, Germany
Lastweek in Düsseldorf, Germany, manufacturers, distributors and serviceproviders gathered at PSI, Europe’s largest promotional productstradeshow. The show, which ran January 11-13, attracted 993 exhibitors, arecord for the event, and attendees from all over Europe and the world.Read more PSI

Norwood, BIC Graphic Work Toward QCA Accreditation
To meet the needs of a competitive market, Norwood and BIC Graphic (UPIC: BIC) (NBGNA) are participating in the Quality Certification Alliance’s (QCA) compliance program. Read more QCA

Promo Kitchen Launches To Encourage, Support Industry Education, Mentorship
At the end of 2011, a number of industry leaders collaborated on the launch of a new blog, Promo Kitchen. The digital publication seeks to be a thoughtful and thought-provoking platform for the promotional products industry. Read more Promo Kitchen

SAGE Conference At The PPAI Expo Attracts More Than 400 Attendees
Held in conjunction with The PPAI Expo 2012, the inaugural SAGE Conference drew more than 400 people on January 3. The full-day event featured a complimentary breakfast as well as a full roster of education sessions. Read more SAGE

Alliance Rubber Company Re-Brands Promotional Products Division Ad Bands
Alliance Rubber Company (UPIC: ALLI0001), a Hot Springs, Arkansas-based provider of custom promotional and packaging products, has changed the name of its promotional division to Ad Bands. The company chose the name in recognition of the success of its Ad Brands printed rubber bands product. Read more Ad Brands

76th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic Winners Take Home A Trophy Produced By R.S. Owens & Co.
Chicago,Illinois-based awards manufacturer R.S. Owens & Co., Inc. (UPIC:RSOWENS) supplied the trophy taken home by the Arkansas Razerbacks aftera 29-16 victory over Kansas State in the 76th AT&T Cotton BowlClassic in Dallas, Texas. Read more R.S. Owens

The Incentive Gift Card Council To Recognize Gift Card Program Accomplishments With The Ace Awards
The Incentive Gift Card Council (IGCC), a group within the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) tasked with educating the incentive marketplace and community on the value and benefits of gift cards, has introduced its new Ace Awards competition. Read more IGCC

Only Two Days Remain To Participate In PPAI’s Quarterly Sales Barometer For 2011’s Final Quarter
There is still time to participate in PPAI’s Quarterly Sales Barometer for the last quarter of 2011. The deadline to participate is January 18, 2012, and all respondents will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Kindle Fire. Read more Quarterly Sales Barometer

Multi-Part Webinar Series Looks At Business Promotion And Communication Strategies
This is a two-part series presented Ryan Sauers, president of Sauers Consulting Strategies (UPIC: Sauers), that asks if it is too easy to become “i-focused” in the modern world. Sauer says that in today’s information overloaded world, it has become difficult to be heard above the noise, and to compensate, we tend to promote ourselves too much. Read more Webinar

Engaging The Transactional Buyer
The January edition of Promotional Consultantis available now. In this issue, learn how to reach the transactionalbuyer—those who shop the internet for the best price and don’t respondto traditional sales methods. Also, explore the value of professionaldevelopment certification and what earning your MAS or CAS can do foryou. PC also brings you into the curious online campaignpromoting the Altoids brand, the latest in “sniffable” products, andmuch more. Click here to download your copy of PC’s January issue.

Product Safety Regulations—What Industry Professionals Need To Know For 2012
As of January 1, 2012, manufacturers and importers of consumer products are required to show proof of compliance with third-party testing for lead in content and phthalate limits established by the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008. Read more Product Safety

PPAI’s First CAS-Required Course Of 2012: Product Safety Basics
The first required course of the year for PPAI’s Certification Program is on product safety basics, held on Thursday, February 2. Read more CPSIA

Braintree, Massachusetts-based supplier Hub Pen Company (UPIC: HUBPEN) has added Marie MacIsaac to its staff, bringing her on as the company’s human resources manager.

Moderne Glass Company, Inc. (UPIC: glass-am) has brought The Identity Group, Inc. (UPIC: 3815) on to represent the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, supplier in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Custom HBC, a supplier based in Waconia, Minnesota, has contracted with two multi-line reps to cover territories for the company. John Gonring of Gonring Promotional Sales will be responsible for Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Wisconsin, while Dave Menke of Paragon Sales Company (UPIC: Parag404) will cover Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.

Industry Donates More Than $10,000 In 2011 To The Business Recovery Fund
The Regional Association Council’s (RAC) Promotional Products Disaster Recovery Foundation’s (PPDRF) Business Recovery Fund’s purpose is to help members and nonmembers get their businesses back on their feet in the wake of a natural disaster. Recognizing how important it is to help businesses, colleagues and friends recover following a disaster, industry members have generously contributed to the Fund, both individually and through their regional associations. Read more BRF

SwervePoint’s Zach Sarner Receives Benjamin Martin’s Sales Achievement Award
Benjamin Martin Corporation (UPIC: benmart), a supplier in Dedham, Massachusetts, presented Zach Sarner of SwervePoint (UPIC: Swerve) with its Grand Master Award. Read more Benjamin Martin

Default sort setting is available in SAGE Online. That means every time a user searches in SAGE Online, the products that match their search criteria will be sorted just like they like them. Read more SAGE Online

2012 PPAI Hall Of Fame Inductees
Get a behind-the-scenes visit with Paul Lage, MAS, and Bob Davis, CAS, recipients of PPAI’s highest honor. Read more Inductees

What Certification Taught Me
Dale Worden, CAS, recounts the 10 things he learned on the road to earning his MAS/CAS. Read more Certification

Cold War
PPB presents a collection of inclement-weather wear as tough to penetrate as the ice on your sidewalk. Read more Cold

Is It Summer Yet?
Soon, it’ll be time to fire up the jet skis or hit the boardwalk for some snow cones. Get a jump on summer fun with PPB’s roundup of the best summertime products. We’re looking for barbecue sets, beach accessories, picnic baskets, coolers, totes, sunscreen, towels and more. Product descriptions and high-resolution images are due to Audrey Sellers by January 27 for possible inclusion in the April issue.

At Your Leisure
Do you serve clients who specialize in leisure or entertainment? Have you created promotions for amusement parks, water parks, museums, libraries, zoos, racetracks, arcades or bowling alleys? PPB wants to talk to you for an upcoming story. January 27 is the deadline to contact Audrey Sellers.

The Best “No” I Ever Heard
Rejection stinks. And then it changes your life. Were you ever told “No” by a client and then found it led to an even better order down the line? Or, maybe the “No” you heard led to a better opportunity—a more challenging position, a new client or a different path altogether. Tell us about the best “No” you ever heard—and how it turned into a great success story and we may include your tale in an upcoming feature in Promotional Consultant magazine. Send your name, contact information and a brief description to Tina Filipski by January 27.

Hot Styles
Summer is upon us, and it will soon be time to pack away the coats and sweaters and dress in warm-weather apparel instead. Get your wearables in PPB’s summer apparel round-up by submitting shorts, sandals, sunglasses, visors, tank tops, swim wear and other keep-cool apparel for consideration. Send product descriptions and high-resolution images to Tama Underwood by February 3 for a chance to be featured in the April issue.

What Would You Do?
An industry supplier is offering an online fulfillment program using gift cards. It lets end buyers select cards in varying amounts and then give them to clients. Recipients of the cards go online and choose a gift equal to the card’s dollar amount. While on the site, recipients can choose to purchase additional items and pay with their credit cards. The supplier told me that even though the end buyer is my client, I won’t receive a commission on items purchased by card recipients with their own credit cards. Is this an acceptable industry practice?

What’s Your Answer? E-mail answers along with your name, title and company name to Question@ppai.org by January 27 for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue of PPB magazine.