News

  • Tuesday, October 17, 2023 11:20 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    HPG – ranked the No. 8 supplier in this year’s PPAI 100 – has announced that Alex Symms, MAS, will expand his director of sales role to cover all three of the Braintree, Massachusetts-based company’s West Coast brands: Evans ManufacturingHandstands and Origaudio.

    A 20-year veteran of the promotional products industry, Symms joined HPG in June after previous roles at suppliers PowerStickChameleon Like, Admints & Zagabor and KTI Networks / KTI Promo.

    “We already knew Alex would be an excellent addition to the team and he proved us right even faster than expected,” says Trina Bicknell, chief revenue officer at HPG. “I’m excited to expand his influence even further within the HPG enterprise and consolidate our West Coast sales leadership for our customers.”

    Brand Evangelist

    As a result of Symms’ expanded responsibilities, Nick Lateur – director of sales at HPG – has transitioned into the newly created role of brand director.

    Entering the promo industry in 2015, Lateur worked in national sales for suppliers AP Specialties and IMAGEN Brands before joining HPG at the end of 2020 as director of national accounts for HPG’s specialty channel.

    • In August, Lateur assumed a development and sales management role at Origaudio after co-founder Mike Szymczak announced his retirement.

    “HPG is the fastest-growing supplier in the industry with the top talent in the industry,” Lateur says. “We’re constantly launching exciting new products and impactful sales tools like Storyboard+. The formula for success in promo is: be top of mind, be easy to work with and maintain strong human relationships. This new role, with the support of the HPG marketing team, will allow me to truly evangelize our brand, our superior products, our unique services and our incredible people; all of which enable our customers to win more business.”

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • Monday, October 16, 2023 4:55 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Starting in 2024, Koozie Group and IMAGEN Brands are consolidating under the Koozie Group brand.

    • Since then, the two suppliers have operated as stand-alone businesses.

    The Integration Process

    Combining the sales and services teams under the Koozie Group brand – IMAGEN Brands will no longer be used once the integration is complete – as well as the support teams and technology of the two businesses, is expected to create efficiencies and a better customer experience.

    • There will be no immediate change to either supplier for the rest of 2023.
    • Customers will see a slow transition into one single ordering process and website beginning January 1.
    • That transition is expected to go into effect by the end of Q1 of 2024.
    By the end of the integration process, the Koozie Group website and ordering process will have a more complete set of offerings than either business currently presents. That is expected to include:
    • An expanded assortment of items with full-color decoration.
    • More items available at 48-hour standard.
    • Products with a sustainability stance.
    • Additional free services and waived fees.
    No facilities under the Koozie Group umbrella will close as a result of the integration.
    • Under this umbrella, pricing will default to Koozie Group’s current structure.
    • The IMAGEN Brands website will be in operation through Q1 of 2024.
    • FedEx will become the standard carrier option.


    "After three years of working together, this seemed like the right time to align common and best practices from across our sites and functions to deliver impactful products and best-in-class service to our distributor partners.”

    What They’re Saying

    Recently promoted Koozie Group CEO Pierre Montaubin says that careful deliberation had led to the conclusion that this integration will most benefit the company’s distributor partners.

    “This integration will bring our customers a thoughtful assortment of best brands and products all in one place,” says Montaubin. “We will combine our sales and service teams, which allows us to increase our support coverage, provide easier order management via the Koozie Group Tracker and deliver faster lead times, improved flexibility and additional value-added services.

    While the company will take the time and care to make sure the integration process goes smoothly, Chief Revenue Officer Melissa Ralston says that plenty of factors are already in place for this to be a natural and organic transition.

    “Many of our back-of-house teams were already supporting both Koozie Group and IMAGEN Brands and have been working hand in hand since 2020,” says Ralston. “We’re excited to be able to leverage the strengths of both companies to provide increased coverage and enhanced tools to help our customers grow their business. We’ll be here to help customers through the transition and know they’ll be encouraged by the new benefits we are now able to offer.”

  • Thursday, October 12, 2023 12:41 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Proforma has achieved a significant milestone by securing the 126th position on the prestigious Franchise Times Top 400 list. This marks a substantial leap from the company’s 2020 ranking at #158.

    • The Franchise Times Top 400 is an exclusive annual ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global system-wide sales. The project is the result of a five-month research and reporting effort that leads to the most credible and objective franchise ranking available.
    • Proforma's impressive growth trajectory, increased sales and strategic planning have helped solidified its standing surpassing household names such as Steak ’n Shake, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Dale Carnegie Training. Proforma's sales surged from $540,000,000 in 2021 to $620,000,000 in 2022.

    “As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we are not resting on our laurels. We are actively engaged in the strategic planning stages for business development in preparation for 2024,” says Vanessa Edwards, director of business development. “Our focus remains on empowering our distributor owners, sales professionals and their team members, and expanding our network.”

  • Thursday, October 12, 2023 12:38 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    The recent terrorist attacks in Israel hit close to home for many in the promotional products industry.

    Some colleagues have found themselves near harm's way, and many others have family members and friends in Israel left to pick up the pieces following unconscionable violence perpetrated by Hamas. Countless more industry professionals are praying for peace and healing.

    Suppliers, distributors and business services alike are rallying to the cause, and PPAI Media is committed to amplifying their efforts so that we all may have the opportunity to contribute and ease the suffering of innocents. 

    If your promotional products company has established a humanitarian response, click here to share details if you would like to be included.

    Hirsch

    PPAI 100's No. 12 supplier, Houston-based Hirsch (PPAI 221823, S10) has announced that it "stands unwaveringly with Israel" and made donations of support to Friends of the IDF and American Friends of Magen David Adom.

    Advertising Specialty Institute

    Pennsylvania-based business services firm Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) has announced that, in conjunction with the family of its chairman, Norman Cohn, it will offer matching donations for contributions to organizations helping the victims of violence in Israel.

    For every $2 donated, ASI and the Cohn family will donate $1. Qualifying donations must be made to either of two organizations:

    • IsraAID, an international humanitarian aid organization
    Contributions should be made directly to one of the organizations, with receipts sent to ASI President and CEO Tim Andrews (tim.andrews@asicentral.com). ASI will match up to $50,000 in donations.
  • Thursday, October 12, 2023 12:13 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    SAGE, the industry’s leading provider of information, marketing, and business management solutions has introduced yet another AI-powered feature to help distributors leverage the power of recent advancements in artificial intelligence.  The latest AI-based development to come out of SAGE’s labs gives distributors a real-time summary by consolidating supplier’s reviews, and allowing them to save time and gain valuable insights at a glance.

    “SAGE is recognized throughout the industry as having the most robust, accurate and truly representative supplier rating and review system,” said Dana Porter, MAS, SAGE’s Vice President of Information Services.  Porter continued, “While many distributors enjoy the details provided by each specific review comment, we also know that it’s extremely helpful in many cases to get a general idea of what people are saying about a supplier.  In order to provide that capability, we leveraged the power of the latest AI technologies to help us create real-time summaries of all of our customers’ supplier reviews.  The result is more time saved and more information available for our customers, and that’s exactly the type of thing we’re always hoping to provide.”

    Supplier review summaries are now available in both SAGE Online and SAGE Web, both of which are available to SAGE’s distributor customers with a Total Access subscription.  All PPAI distributor members automatically receive a one-user license to SAGE Total Access as part of SAGE’s relationship with the association.

    After checking out the new supplier review summaries, Tricia Williams of My Tribe Print & Promo LLC said, "I am thoroughly impressed with the AI-powered Review Summary feature within SAGE.  Its accuracy and efficiency in summarizing complex information are truly remarkable. This tool not only saves time but also ensures that businesses can quickly grasp the essence of customer feedback. It's a game-changer for anyone seeking meaningful insights. Well done!"

    Supplier review summaries are the latest AI-powered feature to be introduced by SAGE.  In recent months, the technology company has introduced a number of features that leverage the newest AI technology in different ways.  Earlier in the year SAGE introduced the Idea Wizard, a powerful tool for distributors to get ideas for specific client events, as well as a number of tools for writing custom content for presentations, project thank you notes, and websites.

    “We’re doing a massive amount of research in AI and other new technology areas.  While we’re looking into all sort of interesting things, our main focus continued to be on finding ways to increase our customers’ productivity, efficiency and information accessibility,” said Eric Natinsky, SAGE’s CEO.  He continued, “All of the new features that we’re releasing out of our labs fit that goal.  We’re so pleased to be able to bring these amazing new technologies to the promo industry in a useful and productive way.”

    For more information about SAGE Total Access, please visit https://www.sageworld.com/try-SAGE.php.

  • Wednesday, October 11, 2023 12:03 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Storm Creek (ASI #89879/PPAI #438091/SAGE#50007), a leading supplier of eco-made and lifestyle apparel is proud to announce the release of its highly anticipated 2024 catalog, featuring an array of highest quality, sustainably made products. The catalog launch is accompanied by an enticing range of fall arrivals that are set to capture the attention of the promotional products industry.

    With dedication to quality, sustainability, and timeless style, Storm Creek has established itself as a trusted supplier for businesses looking to make a lasting impression through branded merchandise. The 2024 catalog is a testament to the company’s commitment to sustainability and quality.

    [2024 Everyday Eco Catalog]

    What’s new in the 2024 Catalog

    1. All Eco-Made: Storm Creek is committed to sustainable practices and offers an expanded selection of eco-conscious products. By the end of 2024, the company will upcycle upwards of 45 million plastic bottles into sustainable apparel. Storm Creek is one of the few promotional products apparel suppliers with a deep, all-eco product line.
    1. PFAS: In accordance with the PFAS regulations starting in 2024, Storm Creek removes all PFAS coatings from outerwear and performance wear.
    1. No Price increases: Contrary to assumptions that buying sustainable costs more, Storm Creek held 2023 prices heading into 2024, while introducing more sustainable fabrics.

    Fall 2023 Arrivals

    Storm Creek’s fall arrivals are focused on trending silhouettes, versatility, and comfort. For example, the Artisan Shirt Jacket, Aviator Bomber Jacket, and Summit Fleece Jacket combine style and sustainability using up to 37 plastic bottles per garment. Founder and President Doug Jackson, remarks “We are excited to introduce our fall arrivals and 2024 collection to the promotional products industry. We believe that our new designs and eco-conscious fabrics will inspire distributors to sell sustainably and educate their customers on the impact they can have. There is no need to sacrifice style for sustainability or sustainability for price.”

    The 2024 catalog and fall arrivals are available for viewing and ordering on distributor.stormcreek.com.

  • Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:45 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Tekweld – ranked the No. 26 supplier in this year’s PPAI 100 – has announced it will be taking over the sales and marketing for Pioneer Line products within the U.S. promotional products industry.

    Under the arrangement, Pioneer Balloon will continue to produce and print balloons sold by Tekweld while focusing on manufacturing and distributing balloons through its other sales channels.

    “Tekweld is a recognized leader in customized promotional items for trade shows, including sanitizer, drinkware, bags, acrylic items and more,” says Scott Slade, CEO of Tekweld. “We can now improve the customer experience by also offering table covers, tents and other promotional products our customers need not only for indoor and outdoor events, but also for advertising at car dealerships, festivals and more. In addition, we’ll further increase market share by offering custom printed AdRite and Qualatex latex and Qualatex Microfoil balloons throughout the promotional industry.”

    “This alliance capitalizes on the strengths of both companies going forward,” Dan Flynn, CEO of Pioneer Balloon. “We’re truly excited to be part of this great partnership with Pioneer Line powered by Tekweld. This team will ensure the highest quality products and service to our promotional products distributors.”

    Ray Rodriguez, who stepped down as vice president of sales and marketing for Tekweld in June and launched supplier consultancy 5P Promo in July, was instrumental in bringing Tekweld and Pioneer Balloon together.

    “I feel like I have come full circle as Pioneer Line was one of the first lines I picked up to represent when I had my repping firm back in the ‘90s,” Rodriguez says. “I'm truly excited about bringing these two premier lines together to form a strong sales and marketing one-two punch in the promotional industry.”

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:41 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Industry veteran Harvey Mackler arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday ahead of a scheduled dedication of an 1,100-year-old bible.

    But he hasn’t left his floor at the Tel Aviv Hilton since early Saturday morning, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, in which more than 700 people were killed, CNN reported.

    “We can hear the Iron Dome missiles intercepting the Palestinian missiles,” says Mackler, MAS, former owner of promotional products supplier GEMPIRE, which was acquired by Massachusetts-based supplier Pin Machine in July. “For the last two nights, we’ve experienced air raid sirens. We evacuate to the stairwell and wait for the ‘all clear.’ My Israeli friends who aren’t in the reserves won’t drive under the current conditions. The beach has been empty, as has the vehicular traffic.”

    Hamas fighters are holding more than 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza, a spokesperson for the militant group said on Sunday, CNN reported. Mackler’s flight home is scheduled for Thursday, and Israel’s national airline El Al is still operating as of Monday morning.

    “One of the objectives of terrorism is to influence one’s life,” Mackler says. “As the national airline of Israel, [El Al] has to keep flying.”

    In spite of this weekend's Hamas attacks, Harvey Mackler, MAS, on Monday attended the dedication of a historic bible at Tel Aviv's ANU Museum of the Jewish People. The 1,100-year-old text is the world's oldest known nearly complete copy of the Hebrew Bible. Mackler says: "Our Bible tells a story, but what an extra story this one has!"

    Asked what industry friends and colleagues could do to offer support on a humanitarian basis, Mackler asked for donations and prayers, but also to remind legislators of the atrocities committed by Hamas.

    Hostile Situation

    Anne Kleinman and Chaim Jaroslawicz of the nearly 40-year-old distributor Ad Infinitum moved to Israel a couple years ago. Their company continues to bill from New York.

    Located about 20 minutes outside Jerusalem in a town surrounded mostly by Arab villages, they heard two sirens and saw the interceptions of a few missiles on the first morning of the war. Anne says they fear that the residents of the surrounding villages will get restless and try coming into all the surrounding Jewish areas to perpetrate their own terrorist incidents. 

    “We want people to see the images and videos of the brutal treatment of civilians – none of whom were off-limits to kidnapping by these animals,” Kleinman says. “Everyone around the world needs to understand that this isn’t a war of armies, it’s the war of terrorists for whom no one and nothing is off limits and the Israeli army, who is trying to minimize civilian casualties on the other side.

    “I hope in the coming weeks when this war is continuing people will remember who started this war and the brutality with which they started it, and that there won’t be calls for Israel to sign a cease-fire.”

    With an office set up in their safe room, Kleinman and Jaroslawicz will remain working as long as they have power and an internet connection. Although they’re appreciative of colleagues’ concerns, they’re focused on operating as usual. Anne recalls the disruption to their business in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, in which Chaim was injured during the terrorist attacks.

    “I would like to ask all our supplier partners to please treat our call as if we were sitting in Florida, Texas or Wyoming,” she says. “Help us process our orders and take care of our clients. We’ll tell you if we need something special or some special help.”

    Fallout Of The War

    Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip and the cutting off of food, fuel, electricity and water supplies, the BBC reported.

    Nine U.S. citizens are confirmed dead as of Monday morning, according to a National Security Council spokesperson.

    American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have all suspended flights in and out of Israel, as the U.S. State Department has issued travel advisories for the region, The Associated Press reported.

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • Monday, October 09, 2023 11:46 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Hit Promotional Products – ranked the No. 4 supplier in this year’s PPAI 100 – has announced the hiring of industry veteran Jon Norris as vice president of business process improvement.

    “Welcoming Jon is a testament to our commitment to lead, innovate and excel in the promotional products industry,” says CJ Schmidt, CEO of Hit.

    Norris’ Background

    A former PPB Rising Star and a 2020 #Online18 honoree, Norris has spent nearly 20 years at Starline – ranked the No. 13 supplier in this year’s PPAI 100 – most recently serving as chief operating officer.

    He’s also a co-founder and current leadership team member of PromoStandards, a group of industry IT professionals who focus on the development of technology standards to enable system-to-system communication in an effort to reduce the cost of business between suppliers and distributors.

    “Jon brings a unique blend of expertise in technology, operations and the promotional products industry,” says Eric Shonebarger, president of Hit. “This synergy is anticipated to foster efficient workflows, increase operational capacity and reduce quality challenges. His depth of knowledge introduces a fresh perspective and enhances our already dynamic and dedicated team.

    “With Jon on board, we’re poised to elevate our operational excellence and offer an even more outstanding customer experience.”

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • Thursday, October 05, 2023 2:03 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    BAMKO – ranked the No. 4 distributor in this year’s PPAI 100 – has announced the hiring of Brad White as its vice president of business development.

    In the newly created role, White will play a critical part in the Los Angeles-based company’s global business development. He’ll be heavily involved with the development and support of BAMKO's sales personnel, particularly in talent acquisition and enterprise sales efforts.

    “We’re beyond thrilled to add Brad to the team,” says Jake Himelstein, president of BAMKO. “This is a statement about our willingness to invest in the industry's best talent as a way of supporting the growth and success of our sales team. Beyond being an optimal culture fit for our action-oriented, dynamic philosophy of being a sales-first company, Brad is going to play an important role in upholding our core commitment to our salespeople: the promise that BAMKO will do everything in our power to maximize their success.”

    White’s Background

    With more than 25 years of experience in the promotional products industry, White has worked as director of promotional marketing at Taylor Promo Marketing (PPAI 103553, D12) – ranked the No. 11 distributor in this year’s PPAI 100 – and vice president of business development at Boundless (PPAI 267078, D11) – promo’s 14th leading distributor in the PPAI 100. He most recently served as senior vice president at casino merchandise specialist Gander Group.

    “I've been a long-time admirer of the BAMKO team and their approach to growth,” White says. “There just isn't a better collection of high-level talent anywhere else in the industry and it's a dream come true to have the opportunity to be a part of that team. What the BAMKO team has built the last few years is unlike anything I've ever seen in my time in this industry. My plan is to be the best teammate I can possibly be and I'm eager to be a part of the success that we get to have together.”

Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization.

2686 Briar Trail • McKinney, TX 75069

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software