News

The Pro Towels and Superior Decorating brands are excited to announce the strategic alliance with EG Threads in Las Vegas, Nevada. EG Threads has been a top full-service apparel decorator and screen printer for the last 20 years in northern California. This Alliance will combine resources, knowledge and experience that will take both companies’ capabilities to new heights.

Superior Decorating will now be utilizing EG Threads’ high-knowledgeable team and their 20 years of experience in elite, apparel decorating. This new venture will not only allow Superior Decorating to continue to grow their business, but also gives EG Threads access to the large product line and selection that Superior Decorating and Pro Towels currently offers to the promotional industry. The combined ethical resources, years of experience and a tremendous understanding of the industry makes for a great combination that their customers will now have access to and grow their own business with as well.

“We are so excited to be working with EG Threads. Our decorating capabilities have always been strong but with this new alliance, we will be taking the decorating business to a new level,” Keith Lofton, Vice President of Sales for Pro Towels and Superior Decorating states.

In the midst of reopening business and COVID-19, businesses that cater to the promotional products and apparel distributor industry need to create new models to best serve the way these businesses now function.  Distributors are going to have to work with fewer face to face meetings and consult virtually. Being able to translate a customer’s words into product may be more challenging.  And finding those brands and products may be harder still. But buying group WePromo has partnered with the industry’s top companies to provide easier sourcing, create visually stunning proposals, and take their business online.

ASI has joined WePromo as a preferred partner, offering considerable discounts to members for ESP, their premiere sourcing technology, and other specialized platforms designed to make technology a distributor’s friend.

“ASI is in an excellent position to support WePromo’s no membership fee structure and to provide top-notch training and support to their members through ESP, the number-one business technology platform in the $24.7 billion promotional products industry,” said Timothy M. Andrews, ASI’s president and chief executive officer.

Wepromo is also pleased to bring in Zoom Catalog, the Promotional Product industry's hub for catalogs, flyers and online marketing tools.  Zoom offers a one stop search and source platform featuring the catalogs of WePromo suppliers. Members will be able to create customized flyers, proposals, and specs for no fee and know they are getting products from WePromo suppliers along with the low pricing.

Another online resource members won’t be without is PromoHunt.  PromoHunt is a browser extension and toolbar that automatically displays helpful information to distributors when they visit supplier websites. With the WePromo partnership, members will be able to see WePromo discounts with a supplier when they visit the supplier website. No flipping back and forth or depending on memory to calculate a price - the exclusive member discounts are displayed at the bottom of the page.

Eileen Lynch, a respected industry veteran, was amazed that these partnerships are coming together so quickly but not totally surprised. “As we all know, there are significant changes across all industries; and the promotional products industry is being hard hit on multiple levels.  Aligning with & joining WePromo will help (businesses) navigate some of these changes so (they) can focus on building back customer bases/business.

PPAI's 2021 Board of Directors officers have been selected; they are Dawn Olds, MAS, chair-elect (top right); and Kevin Walsh, CAS, vice chair, financial services (bottom left). Chair-Elect Todd Pottebaum, MAS+ (top left), will assume the role of chair and current Board Chair Ira Neaman, MAS, will assume the role of immediate past chair.

The new board officers will begin their one-year terms immediately following The PPAI Expo 2021, which will run January 11-13, 2021.

"Todd, Dawn and Kevin are extremely capable leaders and business executives who have added much to the PPAI board. I look forward to their ongoing contributions," says Neaman.

Pottebaum is president of distributor Quality Resource Group, Inc., in Plymouth, Minnesota; Olds is senior vice president of operations for distributor HALO Branded Solutions, Inc., in Sterling, Illinois; and Walsh is president of supplier Showdown Displays in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

PPAI board officers are selected by the PPAI Board Officer Nominating Committee and voted on by the PPAI board.

SAGE®, the promotional products industry’s leading technology provider, and Promotional Products Association International (PPAI®), the world’s largest not-for-profit association for the industry, have partnered together for SAGE Show Virtual™, the industry’s first interactive, virtual trade show experience. This innovative new event will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 from 10:00am to 4:00pm Central Time. All distributors nationwide are invited to attend for free.

For 2020, SAGE Show Virtual will take the place of SAGE’s long-running in-person event that was scheduled to be held in August in Irving, Texas.

“We are thrilled to partner with PPAI and provide the industry a new way to learn, grow and connect virtually,” said SAGE President David Natinsky, MAS. “The world has obviously changed a lot in the past few months. This new virtual tradeshow experience will allow us to have the closest thing possible to an in-person trade show while maintaining health and safety during this time. We’re excited for everyone to join us!”

SAGE Show Virtual will utilize brand new technology from SAGE that creates an interactive experience tailored specifically to the promotional products industry. This revolutionary technology enables distributors to visit virtual booths and discover 2 thousands of promotional products from top industry suppliers. Distributors can also use the live chat platform to connect with exhibitors in real-time. Suppliers will be posting specials that are only available to SAGE Show attendees. Additionally, distributors can access product pavilions to explore the hottest product trends. Networking lounges will allow attendees to mingle, discuss hot topics and catch up with one another.

In addition, SAGE, PPAI and industry suppliers will provide on-demand, professional education sessions dedicated to exploring cutting-edge technology, improving sales and marketing skills, and promoting growth for industry professionals. These educational sessions will be available for CAS and MAS credits.

“During these unprecedented times, our industry is looking for a way to network virtually,” said Paul Bellantone, CAE, president and CEO of PPAI. “We are excited to once again team up with SAGE and offer this innovative opportunity to our members.”

Exhibitors can easily set up virtual booths, pulling product information directly from the SAGE database. There will be multiple booth options available, so suppliers can choose the booth that best fits their business structure and product line. Sponsorship opportunities are also available to increase visibility during the show.

SAGE Show Virtual is the perfect opportunity to explore new, trending products, network with industry leaders and make lasting connections. For more information, to register to attend or to sign up for exhibit space, visit www.sageshow.com. 

AAkron Line, a top 40 promotional products supplier, announced today they have introduced a new line of antimicrobial products. The new antimicrobial line includes AAkron manufactured 17 oz. stadium cup, plastic token and fly swatter, as well as an imported pen. Products will be available starting early June.

“The shortage of AntiMicrobial products in our industry immediately got us excited about the opportunity to build a line of products. We are fortunate to be a domestic manufacturer so that we could do this is in such a timely manner with these unprecedented times,” says Devin Piscitelli, CEO and Co-owner of AAkron Line.

The antimicrobial additives helps prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, neutralizing over 99% of active bacteria. The powerful, invisible additive does not wear off and remains effective for the life of the product. All of the products have passed and comply with standard industry testing. Test information can be viewed at www.aakronline.com.

AAkron Line will continue to expand their new antimicrobial line and already has additional products in the testing phase. The company will look at both domestically manufactured and imported products as the trend for antimicrobial products will continue into the foreseeable future. 

ZOOMcatalog today announced the launch of ZOOMacademy, an educational platform designed for Promotional Product professionals, which will be available at no cost to the entire industry. The ZOOMacademy will include straight forward, in-depth, and on-demand courses focused on digital marketing and sales. Individuals who complete courses in the academy can also earn credit towards their PPAI certification.

The first three courses available in the ZOOMacademy focus on building a communication plan during the pandemic, becoming a remote promotional product company, and an introduction to branding. Students of the academy will decide what classes will be released next, which may include how to transition catalogs from print to digital, how to use objectives to grow your business and a complete reference guide for industry professionals.

“The ZOOMacademy is a platform we have been planning for a long time. With extensive experience in technology, sales, marketing, and the promotional product industry, we have an opportunity to share our knowledge and help others in the industry grow.” Said co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Bryony Zasman. “In response to recent events, we decided to expedite the completion and launch of the ZOOMacademy. During these unprecedented times, people in the industry find themselves with more time on their hands and are looking for ways to build their skills and prepare themselves for success once business returns to the new normal”.

In addition to the library of courses, the ZOOMacademy also includes a talent pool. Industry professionals are invited to submit their resume and create a profile. The talent pool will be accessible to companies in the industry that are seeking new team members.

“If we can help one person find their next role, that’s a win for us.” Said Head of Design, Alex Hughes.

To access the ZOOMacademy and talent pool, visit www.academy.zoomcatalog.com.

Top 40 promotional product supplier and manufacturer, AAkron Line, announced today they have begun manufacturing face shields, after waiting nearly a full month for proper certification from the federal government. The new face shields will be immediately available to state and federal first responders while being available to promotional distributors next week.

“We immediately began to look at the whole spectrum of PPE products to see where and how we could use our manufacturing expertise to help in the COVID-19 fight. We have also seen first-hand numerous products that are available with no certification or documentation so we felt very strongly that whatever we did had to be done to the highest standards” says Devin Piscitelli, CEO & Co-owner of AAkron Line.

AAkron’s face shield is a FDA Listed Device and has passed ANSI testing. The test conducted and passed are ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015-Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices – Full Requirement , and ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015-Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices – Droplets and Splashes.

The face shields have an elastic band for flexible fit, a crystal clear shield and are foam padded for comfort. The company will sell the face shields with the option of imprinting or they can be purchased blank.

These face shields are the second item AAkron Line has introduced in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Last week the company introduced their new Face Mask Ear Saver. The ear saver is also Made in the USA of a latex-free, thermoplastic rubber which allows elastic bands of the face mask to be comfortably hooked together to prevent rubbing behind the ears.

Since our last update, we wanted to keep you informed about our operations and that we remain open for all product categories in our St. Louis headquarters. The operations of our west coast facility, however, have been temporarily suspended due to government directives.

As we move forward, the health and safety of our team remains paramount. They are equipped with the required protective equipment and follow the required protocols for social distancing and sanitation.

In addition to our full product line, over the past month we have expanded our line of hand sanitizers and introduced a new line of protective face masks. Response to each has been amazing and we have many more in development, including an expanded line of PPE.

Please let us know what more we can be doing for you during this time. As we all continue to navigate these uncharted waters, we hope you, your family and your colleagues remain safe and well.

Take care and stay healthy!

From the Ariel Team

There is no question the events of the last 6 weeks have had and will continue to have a significant impact on our economy, industry, businesses and personal lives.

As you most likely know, Tekweld was designated by the State of New York as an Essential Supplier of goods to combat this invisible enemy. The biggest juggling act and our number one priority is to be socially responsible during this crisis, while also trying to meet our customers demand for essential products in the line. Two weeks ago, we were required to halt production on most of the line to give priority to hand sanitizer orders. While each day continues to bring new challenges, we are happy to report that as of today we are again able to produce both essential and non-essential items currently.

It is with grateful hearts that within the last week we were able to bring back 25% of our factory workers. This week we will double that number and will be well on our way to running at full capacity once again. We very much appreciate your patience with us over the last month as we encountered several challenges that come with trying to scale to meet the demands of an unprecedented amount of increased business that accumulated basically overnight. Our CRR, KAM departments and Regional Sales Managers have worked tirelessly fielding phone calls and doing everything possible to keep you, our valued customers well informed.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION : As it relates to our current production status - Please note that our average production time on hand sanitizer is still extended due to limited availability of product. We are filling as quickly as we can, however the current and incoming stock has been allocated to existing orders, with incoming stock already set aside for backorders. We do, however, have a waiting list and are adding purchase orders to it daily while increasing our domestic output and overseas orders to meet demand.

The rest of our product line, for the most part, can ship in 3 to 5 working days. This includes lip balm, sunglasses, cannabis products, drinkware, pet items, and more. For a complete listing, we encourage you to visit our website www.tekweld.com or flip through our 2020 books digitally on Zoom Catalog.

If you would like virtuals or any marketing resources, please connect with our team. We would love the opportunity to help you help your clients get back to building and strengthening their brands during this time. As we move forward, please know that our number one priority is taking care of you, our clients, and each other here at Tekweld. We are committed to providing you with the level of service you deserve while continuing to keep our employees safe. This means practicing safe social distancing, continuing to sanitize work areas, and properly outfitting employees with the equipment they need to do their jobs and feel confident about their health and safety while doing it.

In order to emerge from this unique time in our country's history, it is the companies and individuals who take charge and push forward with an  attitude of optimism that will help to breathe life back into this industry. We’re here for you, ready to make it happen. We also know that by partnering with each other we can all come back even stronger than we started. Let’s work together to make it happen. #PromoStrong

Sincerely,

Taylor Tadmor

President, Tekweld