News

American Solutions for Business raised $500 for the Pope County Veterans Services in Glenwood, MN through an online fundraiser. The money raised will be used towards rides for vets to get to their appointments. The Pope County Veterans Service has highly trained professional advocates for Veterans and their families. They collaborate with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Service Organizations in securing benefits for veterans.

“This is a great help for those veterans that can’t drive, and this program has been a part of the county for over 30 years,” explained Hugh Reimers, Pope-Stevens County Veterans Service Officer. “This money will continue to make transportation a viable option for the veterans in our community.”

The mission of the Pope County Veterans Service Office is to work collaboratively with the Department of Veterans Affairs and to enhance the quality of the lives of Veterans through advising, counseling, claims assistance, education, advocacy, and special programs. 

If anyone is or knows a vet that is in need, please contact Hugh at 320-634-7846.

Vantage Apparel, the industry’s number one source for branded apparel and fulfillment, announced today the addition of industry superstar, Josh Appelbaum as its Vice President, Digital Transformation and a member of the company’s senior leadership team.

As VP, Digital Transformation, Josh will be responsible for working crossfunctionally to bring strategic insight and operations expertise to the everchanging world of branded apparel, on-demand decoration and eCommerce services; a channel he has excelled for the last 11 years in the industry.

A Madison, Wisconsin resident, Josh has spent the last decade as leader in apparel and decoration on demand; working with some of the largest apparel companies in the industry. He has earned countless awards in sales and innovation throughout his industry tenure and has spearheaded digital partnerships before they were cool.

“We’re thrilled to expand our commitment of offering world-class experiences with a faster, more intuitive ecosystem here at Vantage and having Josh join our team will allow us to realize those ambitions even faster,” says Rob Watson, Vantage’s Chief Experience Officer. “As we look to reimagine solutions that offer efficient, top quality programs in decorated apparel to our customers, Josh’s expertise in sales and technology leadership will help us deliver on that promise.”

PPAI announces its newest board members, Chris Anderson (left), CEO of Braintree, Massachusetts-based supplier HPG; Denise Taschereau (center), co-founder and CEO of Vancouver, British Columbia-based distributor Fairware Promotional Products, and Melissa Ralston, chief revenue officer of Tampa, Florida-based supplier Koozie Group.

“We are thrilled to leverage Denise, Melissa and Chris’ talent, expertise and energy to further PPAI’s vision and mission,” says Todd Pottebaum, MAS+, PPAI board chair.

Anderson and Taschereau have been elected to the PPAI Board of Directors following approval of the slate by PPAI members in last month’s election; they will serve a four-year term. Ralston has been appointed to a two-year at-large director position on the PPAI board. All three new directors will begin their terms immediately following The PPAI Expo 2022 in January.

PPAI’s board is the Association’s governing body and plays a major role in directing its strategic activities, adopting policies and approving budgets to carry out the work of the Association.

American Solutions for Business announced that Craig Sahli has joined American Solutions for Busines as a sales associate. Craig is an industry veteran with over 35 years in print and 25 in promo. He operated independently for 16 years, and in recent years was with Kaiser and Blair.

Located in Tulsa, OK, Sahli is ready to leave his mark on the industry. “It’s never been more important in this evolving marketplace to be on the right team, and that’s the reason I’m here. I’m thrilled to be a part of the American family.” said Sahli.

Polyconcept North America (PCNA)—parent company of suppliers Leed’s (PPAI 112361, S13), Bullet (PPAI 113079, S12), Journalbooks (PPAI 110769, S10), Trimark (PPAI 198982, S10) and ETS Express (PPAI 135148, S11)—has announced a new retail partner, JanSport. The backpack brand not only expands the company’s offerings in the bags category, but also its eco-friendly styles, as the majority of JanSport packs available at PCNA will be made in part with recycled materials.

“JanSport is a brand whose legacy precedes them,” says Liz Haesler, chief merchandising officer for PCNA. “They represent a feeling of nostalgia for so many people and we are thrilled to add them to our impressive portfolio of retail brand partners. As a leader in the bags category, we take great pride in making sure we provide our distributor partners with the best selection of quality, on-trend pieces. Not only does JanSport offer a great selection of packs made in part with recycled fabrics, but their packs are designed to last and come with a limited lifetime warranty, minimizing the brand’s waste and environmental impact—so with every sale, we are one step closer to protecting our environment.”

PCNA is launching the brand with a JanSport backpack style, and more bags will be added by the end of the year and into 2022.

American Solutions for Business raised $500 for local kindergarten classes in Glenwood, MN. Every September, ASB’s internal Stewardship Committee holds raffles for the school and distribute to the areas with the greatest need. This year, the school counselor indicated that each kindergarten family is asked to pay $30 to help cover snacks for the year. This is a struggle for some families. The funds raised and donated by ASB will help cover the costs and alleviate some of the financial burden local families are facing.

The Stewardship Committee at American promotes the American culture and fosters fellowship among employees while coordinating events, activities, and fundraisers to benefit the communities in which they live and the causes to which they are dedicated. The group focuses on six to eight charitable causes each year but as needs arise, the team may sponsor other benefits.

Throughout the year, the Stewardship Committee also donate to Pope County Hospice, Pope County Food Shelf, Pope County Humane Society and Rainbow Rider to help the local Head Start children get a ride to school.

American Solutions for Business raised more than $3,000 through its virtual fundraiser for United Way of Douglas and Pope counties. This fundraiser was held through the Glenwood, Minnesota-based distributor’s proprietary ecommerce platform, ACES, in August, trading dollars for votes for one of its senior leadership team members to be “pied” in the face.

The fundraiser wrapped up on August 10, as the results showed that Vice President of Sales Support Miriah Cassidy and Vice President of Technology Mike Pfeiffer were the winners and were going to be pied by ASB Founder and CEO of Larry Zavadil.

The event raised $1,532 and a matching donation from Zavadil for a total of $3,100. On September 15, the pies were delivered to the building parking lot as spectators gathered to watch the pies fly. The event was also live-streamed on Facebook.

Registration is now open for the highly anticipated The PPAI Expo 2022 in Las Vegas. The industry is ready to fully get back to business, and the The PPAI Expo will be ready to make it happen. The promotional products industry’s largest and longest-running trade show is returning to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on January 10-13, 2022, and it’s bringing opportunities for attendees to reconnect with suppliers, grow their business, take advantage of extensive education options, and expand their professional communities through social and networking events.

The PPAI Expo 2022 begins on Monday, January 10 with The PPAI Expo Conference. The one-day education event will feature a curated line-up of impressive and knowledgeable speakers who will expand attendees’ minds and professional toolkits. The trade-show floor, including its popular product pavilions, opens Tuesday morning and runs through Thursday afternoon and will feature nearly 1,000 exhibiting companies from across the promotional products landscape.

“Registration is open!” says PPAI Director of Business Development and Expositions Ellen Tucker, CAE. “Those three words mean a little more this year, and they are bringing a greater level of excitement with them. They mean the countdown has started, the show is a go, that we are committed to bringing the industry together, in person, to kick-off 2022 with The PPAI Expo. With our Healthpitality plan in place, we are eager to safely bring the community together to engage in impactful networking, best-in-industry professional development and a place to do business.”

Healthpitality is the Association’s commitment to ensure the health and safety of show attendees and is an important part of the planning processes for every in-person PPAI event. The show rules are based upon local and federal laws, as well as any Mandalay Bay rules and regulations, and they will remain fluid. Find the most up-to-date event status regarding Healthpitality safeguards here.

Register early for discounts on select hotel accommodations. For more information on Expo 2022, visit expo.ppai.org. And to register, click here.

PPAI announces the recipients of its most prestigious awards for 2022, including PPAI Hall of Fame, PPAI Distinguished Service Award and PPAI H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award, and the Promotional Product Pioneers.

The PPAI Hall of Fame gives permanent recognition to those whose selfless efforts and devotion to the industry are monumental. The 2022 inductees are Sherri C. Lennarson, MAS (left), the retired senior vice president of business development at Bankers Advertising Company, and Cliff Quicksell, Jr., MAS+ (second from left), president of Cliff Quicksell Associates.

The PPAI Distinguished Service Award celebrates members who consistently contribute their skills and expertise toward the betterment of the Association, through volunteer service or by offering their leadership skills to PPAI. In 2022, the recipients are Brandon Mackay, MAS (center), president and CEO of Snugz USA, and David Regan, MAS (second from right), vice president of sales and marketing at The Vernon Company.

Named after the late H. Ted Olson, MAS, PPAI president emeritus, the PPAI H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award represents what Olson stood for—volunteerism inside and outside of the promotional products industry. The award is presented to PPAI members who have shown longstanding empathy, devotion and commitment to improving quality of life and facilitating change for the betterment of a community. In 2022, PPAI honors Peter Hirsch, MAS, president of Hirsch Gift, with this award.

Logomark (PPAI 110898, S12) has partnered with Ascentials Pro, bringing the retail brand of lifestyle and travel bags to the promotional products industry. Founded in Boulder, Colorado, in 2018, Ascentials Pro manufactures bags built using high‐performance outdoor materials designed with a modern, urban aesthetic.

“What first struck me with the Ascentials Pro brand is the keen attention to detail in every bag they produce,” says Trevor Gnesin, CEO of Tustin, California-based Logomark. “The high‐quality materials and the intricately designed parts that are both beautiful and functional create an overall effect that is rarely found in retail brands available today. I really love the look and feel of this brand.”