News

  • Friday, December 29, 2023 8:48 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Ever felt misunderstood? Have you experienced being unfairly judged? Has someone’s perception overshadowed who you truly are and what you offer?

    During an education session at PPAI’s Leadership Development Workshop, “Characteristics of Successful Leaders,” these questions flooded my mind. It made me wonder, how do successful leaders handle situations where perception conflicts with reality? The issue weighed on me so much that I asked the session’s moderators for their perspectives. Their response resonated with me, as they illustrated that many people are dealing with this same challenge.

    It can be tough when colleagues have a different perception of you than who you truly are. In my view there are no fail-safe methods to permanently overcome this sort of misconception. However, here are five tips I personally use to navigate these situations and potentially win over people.

    1. Seek constructive feedback.

    Ask for honest feedback from people you trust. They can help you identify if there’s any truth to what others think about you. Don’t just assume “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

    Trustworthy colleagues can provide insights into how you are perceived versus who you are. Their constructive criticism can help you understand any discrepancies and work on them. This can be an opportunity for growth.

    2. Be clear.

    Misunderstandings often occur due to a lack of communication. Encourage feedback and actively listen to understand how others see you. Express your thoughts and intentions in a way that resonates with your true self. By expressing yourself clearly you provide others with a better understanding of your nature and what you’re trying to get across. Constructive conversations can correct misinterpretations and bring perception closer to reality.

    3. Begin by understanding.

    This is an ePromos core value that has never failed me professionally or personally. Understanding is key! Try to understand why they see you in a certain way. Empathy can help you see things from their perspective. It allows you to form some common ground. Sometimes, people’s perceptions are based on their own experiences and biases. Understanding this can help navigate misunderstanding and bridge the gap.

    4. Don’t talk about it, be about it.

    Actions speak louder than words and they are more persuasive. Show individuals who you are rather than telling them. ‘Step and repeat’ – it’s an oldie but a goodie. Repeat the actions and behaviors that show the real you, not what people perceive.

    Remember, most things do not happen overnight. Over time, this consistency will foster trust and credibility. You will reshape others’ perceptions and show the reality of who you are.

           READ MORE: Latisha Marshall: My Best Advice For Any New Manager

    5. Accept that you can’t please everyone.

    You just might not be everyone’s cup of tea. How others see you isn’t entirely within your control. Despite your efforts, people may continue to view you differently from how you see yourself. Make a choice to filter the external noise and focus on what you can control.

    While moments like these can seem defeatist, lean into them. Discomfort creates profound things. Embrace that fact that not everyone will perceive you accurately, and that’s okay as long as you stay genuine to who you are. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of authenticity. Or as Joshua White – head of strategy and general counsel at distributor BAMKO and member of the PPAI Board of Directors – so eloquently said “Just be Normal.” Authenticity shines through and helps align perceptions with reality over time.

    ***

    By practicing these tips, you can work toward bridging the gap between how people perceive you and the reality of who you truly are. Over time, this can lead to a more accurate understanding of your character and intentions by those around you. Or maybe not, and you may have to learn to be OK with that as well.

    How do you combat perception versus reality scenarios?

    Written by: Latisha Marshall

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • Thursday, December 14, 2023 1:20 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    iPROMOTEu – ranked the No. 13 distributor in the inaugural PPAI 100 – is soon to have a new leader for the first time.

    Ross Silverstein, president and CEO of the Wayland, Massachusetts-based firm, is retiring effective January 31, 2024. Lori Bauer, senior vice president of affiliate sales and support at iPROMOTEu, will be taking over as CEO.

    Launching iPROMOTEu in 1999, Silverstein has been at the helm for nearly a quarter century. 

    “iPROMOTEu started as nothing but an idea, and it has evolved into one of the largest and most successful distributor organizations in the industry,” Silverstein says. “Presently, iPROMOTEu is in the strongest and best condition in its 24-year history. This is a melancholy moment for me, but the time is right to make this transition, for me and for the company.”

    New Era For iPROMOTEu

    “Ross has led iPROMOTEu through remarkable growth and he will be greatly missed,” Bauer says. “The extraordinary iPROMOTEu community is a testament to his vision, work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. Ross is a great leader who has always been invested in setting up his team and iPROMOTEu’s Affiliates for tremendous success. I sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence he has in me to lead iPROMOTEu into the future.”

    Bauer, who has been appointed to a two-year, at-large director position on the PPAI Board of Directors beginning in January 2024, joined iPROMOTEu in 2021. 

    Previously, she spent 23 years at Koozie Group, where she was an integral part of the supplier’s success with responsibilities spanning across sales and marketing. Named a PPB Rising Star in 2010 and honored with the PPAI RAC Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015, she has long been a supporter of PPAI’s Women’s Leadership Conference, serving on the WLC Advisory Group for multiple years.

    • Bauer has also served as president of the Promotional Products Association of Florida (PPAF) and as board chair of the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF).


    Distributor Network

    iPROMOTEu is a network of more than 1,100 independent distributor affiliates and salespeople across the United States and Canada.

    • The company provides extensive support to its affiliates, from back office support and secure tech tools to ongoing education and suggestions on how to reduce environmental impact.
    • The company and its affiliates have earned PPAI Pyramid Awards annually since 2010, and in 2023, iPROMOTEu ranked among PPAI’s #Online18 for its posts full of useful stats, resources and story links.
    • Since 2008, the company also brings the industry together online each March with DunkFest, a friendly competition open to anyone working in the promotional products industry.

     

    “With iPROMOTEu’s stature in the industry, its incredible staff that is committed to the company’s core values, and its outstanding Affiliate network that is second to none, iPROMOTEu is poised for continued excellence and success,” said Bauer. “The future is bright at iPROMOTEu, and I look forward to continuing our mission to provide the best economic and lifestyle opportunity for promotional products distributors and salespeople.”

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • Monday, December 11, 2023 9:56 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Pantone continues a warming trend with its 2024 Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz (PANTONE 13-1023), a “velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul,” the company announced.

    “In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

    PPAI members receive discounts on color solutions from Pantone, a PPAI Affinity Partner.

    The pastel hue, nestled between pink and orange, echoes the earth tones that have been surging in popularity in the past year as people emerge from the pandemic looking for warmth, connection and optimism. Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, says that, given the turmoil of the past few years, Pantone sought a warm, inviting color that would evoke community and togetherness.

    She describes Peach Fuzz as “a heartfelt peach hue bringing a feeling of kindness and tenderness, communicating a message of caring and sharing, community and collaboration. A warm and cozy shade highlighting our desire for togetherness with others or for enjoying a moment of stillness and the feeling of sanctuary this creates.”

    Pressman adds that Peach Fuzz also suggests nurturing, calm, comfort and peace, yet “evokes a new modernity” as “a quietly sophisticated and contemporary peach with depth.” Pantone has also released five palettes of complementary colors dubbed “color harmonies for mind, body and soul.”

    Pantone 2024 Color of the Year Peach Fuzz swatches and samples

    IMAGE: Pantone

    Each year, the Pantone Color Institute carefully selects a hue that reflects worldwide trends in design, fashion, current events and more.

    • This year’s announcement marks the 25th anniversary of the Pantone Color of the Year program, created in 1999 to spark conversation around color and culture.
    • The Color of the Year for 2023 was Viva Magenta, a “brave and fearless” animated red “expressive of a new signal of strength.”

    “It is our hope that we have inspired you to look at color in a different way – that color and its connection to emotion and the expression of human feelings will take on a new significance, causing your eye to linger a little longer throughout the day on the tints and tones that surround you, as history unfolds from moment to moment,” says Pressman.

    The promo industry keeps a close eye on color trends, including the annual Color of the Year announcement, as suppliers and distributors apply those ideas to future product and marketing plans.

    Attendees at The PPAI Expo 2024, January 15-18 in Las Vegas, will receive Pantone 2024 Color of the Year bags produced by Promo PSI (S4, 256002) when they purchase products at the Pantone booth. The white non-woven shopping totes will be decorated with a design reflecting the warmth and togetherness that the Peach Fuzz hue suggests – carefully matched to Pantone standards. 

    PPAI Expo tote bag design for Pantone Color of the Year 2024 Peach Fuzz

    Written by Rachel Zoch

    Published with Permission by PPAI

  • Monday, December 11, 2023 9:51 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    In late October, PPAI brought together a hand-picked group of young industry talent for the first ever Emerging Leaders Conference, held in conjunction with the annual Leadership Development Workshop.

    Among the attendees of ELC 2023 were this year’s PPAI Rising Stars, who were selected from a record field of 170 deserving nominees. While the professional development content for the Rising Stars was distinct from the content for LDW, holding the two events in parallel was more than purposeful, and LDW attendees – mostly regional association executive directors and board members – were challenged to tap these young leaders and others like them to help steer the industry toward its brightest future.

    This year’s 12 honorees, selected for their accomplishments, leadership and service, join nearly 200 industry Rising Stars named through the program since its beginning in 2010. Many past recipients have gone on to claim C-suite roles in their companies and serve the industry as key volunteers.No doubt, this year’s Rising Stars will continue to make the promotional products industry stronger.


    Quinn Bui, 35
    Owner/Multi-line Rep
    n9ner Marketing
    Riverside, California

    Get To Know Quinn

     


    Emily Codner, 40
    Director, Affiliate Services
    iPROMOTEu
    Millbury, Massachusetts

    Get To Know Emily

     

      

    Mykayla Goodwin, 33
    Vice President of Strategy
    OrderMyGear
    Dallas

    Get To Know Mykayla

     

      

    Katie Grimes, 31
    Account Executive
    Red Promotions
    Temecula,California

    Get To Know Katie

     

      

    Maddie Hardy, 30
    Senior Account Manager
    Whitestone Branding
    San Diego

    Get To Know Maddie

     


    Simi Kasakwe-Welsch, 29
    Public Relations Specialist
    American Solutions for Business
    Starbuck, Minnesota

    Get To Know Simi

     

      

    Alex Paschal, 27
    President
    Warwick Publishing
    St. Charles, Illinois

    Get To Know Alex

     

     

    Kathryn Peach, 28
    Senior Account Manager
    Promotional Source
    Toronto

    Get To Know Kathryn

     

      

    Nadav Raviv, 40
    Senior National Account Executive
    GBS
    Nashville, Tennessee

    Get To Know Nadav

     

     

    Tori Thomas, 32
    Director of Marketing
    BELLA+CANVAS
    Costa Mesa, California

    Get To Know Tori

     


    Katie Whitehead, 39
    Director of Marketing
    HALO
    Sterling, Illinois

    Get To Know Katie

     


    Chelsea Williams, 32
    Owner & CEO
    Spark Branded Solutions
    Nashville, Tennessee

    Get To Know Chelsea

  • Thursday, November 30, 2023 12:39 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Bensussen Deutsch & Associates has added Matt Ferrari as chief operating officer. He will oversee the distributor’s global operations, fulfillment centers, supplier partners and sales support.

    • Ferrari has more than 15 years of experience in supply chain management with global brands, including 10 years with VF Corporation – most recently as VP, global supply chain for The North Face brand. Prior to that he held operational roles with Johnson & Johnson and was with Timberland.

    “Matt is completely dialed into the best practices of managing a worldwide network. As we accelerate efforts to globalize our supply chain and grow our international footprint, Matt’s experience will be instrumental in expanding our client offerings,” says Jay Deutsch, CEO and co-founder of BDA.

    “I was drawn to BDA by the company’s culture of continuous innovation, the massive portfolio of iconic brands they are entrusted with and their forward-looking approach on behalf of their clients and team,” says Ferrari. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a variety of category leading brands; that experience has instilled in me the ability to maximize strategic partnerships and effectively manage a global supply chain. I look forward to leveraging that expertise to further position BDA for ongoing success.”

    Magellan Promotions Named 2023 Future 50 Winner

    Magellan Promotions (PPAI 288676, D6) has been recognized as one of BizTimes’ 2023 Future 50 winners. The award celebrates the fastest-growing companies in southeastern Wisconsin.

    • To qualify, companies must have been in business for at least three years, be privately owned and show significant revenue and employment growth.
    • Magellan, which also won the award in 2019, was honored along with other winning companies at the annual Future 50 Luncheon and was featured in an issue of BizTimes Milwaukee magazine.

    “We’re excited to recognize this year’s group of Future 50 winners. These companies are creating jobs and fueling the growth of our region,” says Dan Meyer, publisher and owner of BizTimes Media.

  • Thursday, November 30, 2023 12:36 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    London, Utah-based Rustico has gone out of business.

    The supplier of premium handcrafted leather goods has announced on its website that it “must reluctantly close its doors and cease all operations at this time.”

    “Over the past few years, we’ve fought hard to try and make it through a large financial struggle and unfortunately haven’t succeeded. We’re truly heartbroken to share this news. We want to express our deepest gratitude to all of you who have loyally supported us over the past 22-plus years. Thank you for believing in Rustico,” the company said in a statement.

    The Industry’s Loss

    In October, Rustico reportedly stopped taking orders from distributors through the end of the holiday season.

    Since the company has made its decision, industry members have taken to social media to lament the closure. “So sad to hear this from Rustico…a great supplier with a fantastic product,” posted Walter Kurt, MAS, president of Houston-based Three K Consultants (PPAI 260216, D2).

    CEO Isaac Childs co-founded Rustico with friends following a backpacking trip through Europe in 1998.

    • According to the company website, Childs wanted more durable journals to write about his travels in.
    • The supplier also offered portfolios, belts, wallets, wristbands and travel tags.
    Rustico has urged distributors interested in its products to purchase them through online retailers listed on its website. “Get them quick because when they sell out, they're gone,” the company said.
  • Monday, November 27, 2023 12:16 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    PPAI technology partner SAGE has announced that 1,073 supplier and decorator companies have earned A+ and A rating awards for 2024 based on an aggregate of their distributor ratings collected through SAGE Total Access, the company’s product management and business management solution.

    This Year’s Honorees

    The SAGE rating system was developed to empower distributors to make well-informed decisions about the companies they work with.

    • This year, 883 companies received SAGE’s A+ rating, while another 190 earned an A rating.
    • These suppliers and decorators comprise a total of 45% of all active Advantage or Decorator Members in the SAGE database.
    • As part of the relationship between SAGE and PPAI, suppliers with SAGE A+ and A ratings are also considered for eligibility in the industry's annual renowned PPAI Supplier Star Awards competition.
    • Likewise, SAGE ratings comprise a portion of the scoring for PPAI 100, serving as the basis for the Industry Faith category for suppliers.

    "We are so excited to recognize and celebrate our supplier and decorator partners that continuously go above and beyond to provide exceptional service and raise the bar for the industry's standard of quality and integrity each year," says Dana Porter, MAS, SAGE's vice president of information services.

    To view the complete lists, click here:

    Earning The Awards

    Through SAGE Online and SAGE Web, distributors can view a supplier or decorator's real-time ratings and comments, as well as a comprehensive overview of their award information, including any additional industry accolades.

    • Distributors can also now utilize AI-powered, consolidated review summaries to gain these important insights at a glance.

    Ratings can be submitted through SAGE Total Access or via the "Rate Us" link provided by both suppliers and decorators.

    • Distributors score factors such as customer service, delivery and problem resolution, as well as leave a detailed comment.
    • They can only rate each company once to provide their unique perspective; however, they may update their ratings at any time, ensuring the most precise depiction of their experience.

    Award-winning supplier and decorator companies will have access to a variety of marketing collateral to promote their A+ or A-rated status, including logos for their catalogs, websites and email signatures.

    Written by: James Khattak

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • Thursday, November 16, 2023 11:46 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    PPAI has named the finalists of the Association’s 2024 PPAI Pyramid Awards. The annual awards honor creative excellence in the promotional products industry and recognize dependable suppliers, outstanding promotions, creative campaigns and exceptional craftsmanship by PPAI members.

    This year, 66 companies have been named finalists

    First presented in 1958, the PPAI Pyramid Award represents the pinnacle of achievement and honors the long-standing, collaborative partnerships between the PPAI family of members that differentiate strategic promotional marketing from the buying and selling of products. The award recognizes promotional products businesses and helps shine the spotlight on the collaborative business model unique to the industry.

    Industry companies’ work is recognized in five categories, with most broken out into several subcategories. Learn more about the categories and look back at the 2023 Pyramid Award winners:

    • Client Programs showcase distributors’ effective use of promo in creating creating programs and campaigns for their customers and end-users.
    • Open to all PPAI members, the Marketing Programs categories recognize creative branding activities that deliver information about company identity, products or services to customers and prospects.
    • The Supplier Decorating Categories celebrate the craftsmanship, successful delivery and creative service of promotional products suppliers.
    • Technology Programs categories recognize industry members’ work in developing creative and effective websites and mobile applications.
    • The PPAI Supplier Star competition allows PPAI member distributors to vote for their top supplier companies.

    The PPAI Pyramid Award has stood the test of time and continues to advance the awareness and prestige of the industry’s talented companies and individuals. The 2024 winners include:

    A+ Wine Designs
    alphabroder
    Arid Zone
    Ariel Premium Supply
    Artistic Toys & Promotions
    Artwork Services USA / AWS
    AZX Sport
    BAG MAKERS
    BAMKO
    Bentcil Company
    Brand Blvd.
    Brand Fuel
    commonsku
    Concepts & Associates
    Corporate Specialties
    CounterPoint
    Doug Fregolle Promotions
    Dunstan Group
    EMT
    EPromos Promotional Products
    Eversole Run
    Eyevertising
    Fields Manufacturing
    Fullarton Group
    Gemline
    GMG WORKS
    Gold Bond
    Goldstar
    HALO
    Hillarys
    HPG
    IICON Creative Strategies
    Illinois Glove Company
    IMAGEN
    imprintID
    Indiana Metal Craft
    INM Marketing Group
    Jornik Manufacturing Corp.
    Koozie Group
    Nadel
    Opti Print and Fulfillment
    Orbus Visual Communications
    PCNA
    PowerStick.com
    Pro Towels
    PromoCorner
    Raining Rose Promos
    SanMar
    Showdown Displays
    Six Twenty Six, LLC
    Sonic Promos
    Spector & Co
    Starline USA
    Stellar Lanyards North America
    StoneyCreek
    Stouse
    Sweeter Cards
    The MRL Group
    Thumbprint
    Totally Bamboo
    Towel Specialties
    Vantage Apparel
    Visions
    Whitestone
    WOWLine
    YM Labs

    Written by: James Khattack

    Published with Permission by PPAI

  • Thursday, November 16, 2023 11:44 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    What will be fashionable in the fall of 2025? Vicki Ostrom’s job is to have that answer today.

    A 12-year veteran of the promotional products industry, Ostrom is a “futurist” at SanMar (PPAI 110788, S16) – promo’s leading supplier in this year’s PPAI 100. Her role is to supplement the research and knowledge that the Issaquah, Washington-based firm’s merchandising, design and product creation teams obtain from vendor partners, customers, shopping and other sources.

    “You want to design something that will be in our line for at least five years, but of course, fashion does change,” Ostrom says. “How do you design a universal style that’s not only trendy for now and five years from now, but also super durable and for potentially a range of ages and ethnicities? You have to really think it through and put a lot of factors into play to decide what that garment should look like.”

    Passion For Fashion

    The Montana native has always been drawn to making something from scratch.

    The daughter of a wheat farmer, Ostrom initially wanted to be a chef. Mixing colorful ingredients sparked her creativity, fueling her interest in the arts. Although she went to college for acting, costume design truly resonated with her.

    “You have to learn about every character, understanding the minutia of who’s around them, what’s the setting they live in and how does that affect what they wear,” Ostrom says.  

    • Graduating from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in technical theatre, she spent seven years as a costume designer and seamstress on Broadway in New York City.
    Envious of friends who had a stable career with healthcare coverage and a 401(k) plan, she relocated with the intention of earning a master’s in costume design at the University of Washington. However, Seattle Central College offered a similar education for a shorter amount of time and a lot less money, so she earned an associate of applied science in apparel design and went on to work for high-profile brands, like Eddie Bauer, Tommy Bahama and JCPenney.
    • So, she produced editorial pages with images of product designs and matched them with trends happening in the world.
    • The sales team quickly took notice and wanted to show their customers.
    • The content was so valuable that she transitioned into her current full-time role as trends editor at SanMar.
    While apparel trends are certainly related to the latest wearable fashions, most folks don’t consider that what we choose to wear comes from larger influences from the world around us, according to Shelley Renning, vice president of merchandising at SanMar.
    Indeed, Ostrom aims to bring macro-level observations of generational shifts, economic factors, health and wellness movements, climate change, how other industries are moving and anything else existential like a pandemic or war that could create opportunities – either for new products or for enhancing products, categories and brands that SanMar currently designs for.
    • The biggest trend Ostrom is seeing right now is companies selling their products through the lens of education.
    “People are really into learning right now – they want to understand things,” she says. “So, companies are teaching their customer something, and the customer appreciates that they’ve just learned something valuable.”


    “I was mainly designing apparel for men,” Ostrom says. “You have to be extremely good with your research because men don’t mess around when it comes to clothing. If they love it, they’ll buy a lot of it. If they don’t, you’ll never see them again.”

    Entering The Promo World

    In 2011, Ostrom joined SanMar as a senior designer.

    “We were just starting to really do a deep dive focus into women’s clothing,” she says. “Up to that point, if you had a woman on your team, probably a small men’s shirt would be fine. But then Instagram and Pinterest were coming into play, so women everywhere were starting to see and be able to buy clothing from outside their region with ease. We readdressed all the fits we had in women’s product and examined new styles.”

    Comparing SanMar’s women’s apparel to that of popular retail brands, Ostrom was impressed at the quality, and thought others would be, too.


    “One of Vicki’s contributions to SanMar’s team of designers and merchandisers is to share those macro trends in a way that can be translated into functional and trend-right products that resonate with end users,” Renning says.


    “I love the social anthropology of trend reporting,” Ostrom says. “It’s all about researching your customer. As a designer, it’s already a full-time job keeping track of your production while hoping you can keep up with the trends. My role is to be that extra helping hand and present what’s happening in the world that we should be aware of.”

    Connecting The Dots

    Predicting the next big thing in fashion requires endless research. Working from home, Ostrom’s daily routine includes reading both the digital and print version of The New York Times, poring through global trend resources that SanMar subscribes to, conversing with colleagues about what they’re reading, seeing or hearing, watching The Today Show and even studying the commercials.

    “As a marketer, it’s a difficult job to get someone’s attention and present something that would be informative and captivating enough to have them actually watch a commercial,” Ostrom says. “I see what colors and images they’re using and what stories they’re choosing to tell.

    “Over the years, I’ve been able to see different aspects of things I read from different sources and make more connections to understand what’s a true trend we’re pursuing as a society rather than a really strong advertorial that some company is putting out.” 


    SanMar values Ostrom’s creative way of communicating relevant trends to its customers and understands that it’s a differentiator in the promo industry. “SanMar’s goal is to share the ‘why’ behind the products we create,” Renning says. “By making trend education approachable, Vicki helps ensure our customers are seen as the experts in finding solutions to any customer’s wearable needs.”

    Ostrom attributes her success to her innate curiosity and her penchant for always paying attention to the world around her.

    “Because everybody is so busy in their lives maybe they’re not sitting down and making those connections the way I do for my job,” she says. “What makes me successful is the volume of places I look: museums, TV shows, movies, economy stories, etc. Seeing a volume of different types of sources of information and then making your own conclusions about where you’re seeing these threads come together gives you confirmation that you’re following the right path.”

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • Thursday, November 16, 2023 11:41 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Vantage Apparel (PPAI 113235, S10) – ranked the No. 17 supplier in this year’s PPAI 100 – has announced that Rob Watson has returned to the Avenel, New Jersey-based company as CEO.

    Ira Neaman, MAS, founder and president/CEO of Vantage Apparel, is transitioning to the role of president/executive chairman to focus on the company’s vision, strategy and continued business development.

    “Rob's return to Vantage Apparel as CEO is an exciting development for our company,” Neaman says. “Rob’s extensive industry experience, combined with his prior contributions to our organization, positions him to lead Vantage to new heights. We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to provide our customers with the highest-quality promotional apparel and new, innovative services.”

    Global Expansion

    With more than 20 years of experience in the promotional products industry, Watson has held leadership roles at several firms, most recently serving as vice president at Tempe, Arizona-based Zing Manufacturing (PPAI 517185, S7). 

    “Vantage has a long-standing reputation for quality, innovation and exceptional decoration services, and I'm committed to building on that legacy,” Watson says. “We have an exciting journey ahead, and I look forward to collaborating with our team and our distributor partners to drive our company forward in the industry.”

    Under Watson’s direction, Vantage's global footprint – through its 2021 acquisition of Lynka, a full-service European corporate apparel supplier – will be a major strategic focus for the company.

    • John Lynch will continue as president of Lynka and “help strengthen the vision of continued international programming for the network of companies.”


    Watson’s Background

    "Rob brings the unique skill sets of both technological prowess and a deep knowledge of our industry, as well as superb leadership and communication skills," Neaman says.

    In his previous role at Vantage as chief experience officer, Watson played a pivotal role in enhancing customer experience, streamlining operations and driving business development initiatives. 

    He has also served as:

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

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