News

HALO Branded Solutions (PPAI 106462, D15) has acquired New York, New York-based distributor Axis Promotions (PPAI 159158, D11). Sterling, Illinois-headquartered HALO will continue to maintain the Axis offices, and no further changes are planned.

"Axis is a rapidly-growing distributor serving a blue-chip roster of global brands," says Marc Simon, HALO CEO. "Larry Cohen and his team have built Axis on creativity and exceeding client expectations, and we appreciate their trust in HALO's ability to help them continue their impressive growth. Our goal is to leverage the best practices of both HALO and Axis for the benefit of the valued clients of both organizations."

Axis Promotions CEO Larry Cohen, CAS, adds, "There is mutual respect between HALO and Axis. We have known each other for many years and recognize the amazing synergies our two companies share. HALO's financial strength and business development tools will allow us to expand our reach with our clients and key prospects and to offer enhanced creative services, deeper supplier relationships, robust ecommerce and distribution capabilities. HALO's client-centric and innovative approach aligns with the expanding needs of our clients."

American Solutions for Business is proudly celebrating 20 years of their proprietary eCommerce Platform, called ACES – short for American’s Customer-Centric eCommerce Solution.

Introduced in January 2000, ASB Founder & CEO, Larry Zavadil, and Dion Harste, VP of Information Technology were set out to take advantage of the eCommerce wave they could see coming and developed the platform in a time that predated Facebook and Gmail.

Initially, ACES started as primarily an office supplies online store for the first year before introducing apparel – a plan that was sketched out on a bar napkin between Harste and Rob Dubow, owner of St. Cloud, MN-based apparel decorator. The program was named “Just in Time” (JIT) and is still one of ASB’s most robust eCommerce features, allowing customers to order branded merchandise in quantities of one (no minimums, no inventory).

Today, the platform hosts over 12,000 customer eCommerce sites. Due to ever-evolving customer needs and advances in technology, 95% of code is updated every two years, ensuring a dependable, state-of-the-art user experience. ACES has countless features that have been added over the years, including multiple eStore options, allocation dollars, approval rights, split shipping, retail-style graphics, points program, variable templates and more.

“Our ACES growth has consistently outpaced or even doubled ASB’s growth in the last seven years,” explains Mike Pfeiffer, VP of Technology. “The next adaptation of our platform will continue to power our steep growth curve for years to come. The evolution of our technology is all to help hundreds of our sales associates automate their business, increasing sales while streamlining operations.”

The Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) is proud to announce RiteLine as a Diamond Level Partner, and the exclusive pen provider for PPAS in 2020.

“The RiteLine Diamond Partnership is instrumental in our ability to continue to push the PPAS envelope forward to serve our members in the best way possible,” stated Mark Corscadden, PPAS Board President. “It will allow us to provide ongoing education, college scholarships, MAS/CAS testing and networking events for local industry professionals.”

“RiteLine is delighted to partner with our hometown trade association and all of its members. Texas is our home and we couldn’t be happier to share our Texas values, products and work with our best, and closest customers,” said Steven Meyer, MAS, VP Customer Development/Operations, RiteLine LLC.

About The PPAS: The PPAS is designed to elevate the image of promotional products and their applications in the Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico marketplaces; advocate that the highest business standards be practiced by its members and in the promotional products industry in general; and provide a forum for educational opportunities, idea sharing and camaraderie among suppliers, supplier reps and distributors.

About RiteLine LLC: Each RiteLine™ Pen is an exclusive, protected design, from the comfortable grip to the smooth-flowing ink. Design that is focused on providing users the best writing experience possible. We’re confident that once you use a RiteLine™ pen, you’ll always reach for it first. RiteLine™ products are exclusively manufactured in our state-of-the-art facility overseas. Overseeing both our manufacturing process and our Dallas-based decorating facility ensures RiteLine™ brings you industry-leading, consistent quality. You can rely on RiteLine's™ extraordinary quality on each and every order. RiteLine™ pens, inks and facilities meet the most exacting US and Canadian safety and social responsibility standards. And, because we control every aspect of manufacturing, decoration and distribution, your brand is safe. Peace of mind comes with every order. Your RiteLine™ Team has years of experience in the industry and is eager to go to work supporting your selling efforts. Every order is a chance to strengthen your relationship with the customer as a valuable part of their marketing team. RiteLine™ understands that our success is dependent on providing you the products and tools you need to succeed.

The Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) has secured a partnership with PromoHunt, a technology company serving the promotional products industry. In the partnership, PromoHunt’s browser extension software will automatically display helpful information when PPAS distributors visit supplier websites.

“This partnership with PromoHunt will allow us to increase the value of our member benefits by giving distributors tools that can help save them time and money,” says Mark Corscadden, president of the PPAS board of directors.

After PPAS distributor members download PromoHunt's browser extension, their toolbar will display a small icon at the bottom of the screen if a PPAS coupon is available when they visit a supplier’s website, and they can access its details with a click.

"In the past, PPAS coupons were one of the most sought after, but underutilized member benefits—they were out of sight and out of mind. Through our partnership, PPAS members can access coupons without leaving participating supplier websites. Better coupon utilization can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars and easily cover the cost of membership,” says PromoHunt Founder Tony Wavering.

The Pro Towels family of brands is pleased to announce the hiring of Jeanna Abercrombie, MASI, to Key Accounts Director, as well as the promotion of Ellen Walborn into a Key Accounts Director position on the Sales team also.

Jeanna Abercrombie, MASI, is new to the Pro Towels family, but not a newcomer to the promotional industry. She is an industry veteran with over 24+ years’ experience in sales, customer service and operations at other promotional product companies and suppliers. She has held such previous roles as National Sales and Product Manager, so she is excited to bring her knowledge and experience to help grow the Pro Towels Family to the next great level.

Ellen Walborn has had worked in many different roles at the Pro Towels family of brands from production artist in the art department to a lead in laser and embroidery department. She has been an asset to the team going on 3 years now and Pro Towels is very excited to see her grow in this sales position. Ellen is ready to get out in the industry, meet the customers and help grow the relationship and sales opportunities with these clients. Ellen will be in the Abbeville, South Carolina facility but will be traveling around the country to meet with clients.

"Jeanna and Ellen are extremely valuable to our future growth and expansion into some of our most important clients and accounts. With their vast knowledge and experience, we expect they will help us connect better with our client base and developing strong relationships even further,” Keith Lofton, Vice President of Sales states.

About Pro Towels Pro Towels is the largest towel supplier to the promotional product industry with locations on both the east and west coast. The company offers in-house screen printing, sublimation and embroidery services to support a broad product line of beach, golf, and sport towels. Additionally, Pro Towels carries bathrobes and other beach accessories to complement its towel line. The Pro Towels family of companies also includes Kanata Blanket Company, and Superior, a leader in contract decorating for the promotional products industry for over 35 years.

Multi-like rep Tony Tuso rolls in style, bringing his showroom directly to his clients via a custom-fit RV.

PPB When did you start using a mobile showroom to feature products, and how did you come up with the idea?

Tuso I began using the RV mobile showroom in 2009. I like to say that I came up with the idea, but after seeing a few of my fellow reps using this type of presentation, I thought I would join the adventure and give it a try myself.

PPB What sort of response do you receive from clients or prospective clients about the mobile showroom?

Tuso At first when I inform them that our meeting will take place at their location but inside of the 36-foot RV mobile showroom, they are a little baffled. Once they enter the RV and see the more than 400 professionally displayed products, I get the ‘wow, this is awesome,’ response. The clients actually sit, relax and are less distracted during our meetings. Clients and suppliers see this as a real opportunity to actually see and display many more of their products in the short time that we, as reps, are given during the course of an hour or so. Distributors many times have requested the use of the RV mobile showroom to use for their own client meetings, as well as for client open houses at their customers’ locations. Recently, a top distributor in Dallas was in the process of moving and requested the use of the RV mobile showroom so they could meet with their clients, who were flying in for a meeting. This is a win-win for both distributors and their clients. Distributors only need to contact me with their client’s location and I will arrive, set up the RV and let the selling begin.

PPB How important do you think it is to think outside the box—or, as you would say, go the ‘extra mile’—to connect with clients?

Tuso Clients today are looking to their distributors for creative ways to earn their business. Giving that one-on-one personal touch is still one of the best ways to ensure a client’s commitment when deciding whether to purchase from them or an unknown source. Clients love the opportunity I provide for them, allowing them to actually see, touch and discuss the products on display. The other benefit that I offer to them and their clients is the availability to receive an actual sample right on the spot, rather than having to order it. Making a purchase many times is spontaneous, and if they can actually have a sample in their hands it speeds up the process of getting the order. I call this, ‘taking the showroom to the client.’

PPB Speaking of ‘miles,’ do you know how many miles your showroom has traveled? Or, across how many states?

Tuso Over the past nine years I have logged 135,000 miles traveling through six states: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado and New Mexico.

PPB Have you experimented with other forms of product presentation that are unusual or unexpected?

Tuso In my 33 years, I have tried many different approaches when making presentations. The RV mobile showroom has been the most successful, but I have also ventured outside the box with using special event locations, such as the new Cowboys Stadium at field level, wineries and vintage airplane museums. All have been locations that interest the distributors enough to come and spend time with me and my suppliers. Thinking outside the box is what opens opportunities for success.   

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Danielle Renda is associate editor of PPB.

The Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) is proud to announce The Paper Place as a Diamond-Level Partner and its exclusive cup and napkin provider and Professional Development sponsor in 2019.

“This partnership with The Paper Place will allow us to provide ongoing education, college scholarships, MAS/CAS testing and networking events for local industry professionals,” said Jarod Thorndike, President, PPAS Board of Directors.

The Paper Place, a Dallas based family-owned supplier, specializes in producing high-quality custom imprinted napkins, guest towels and cups. The Paper Place has recently published its 2019 Guide for Promotional Products Distributors with ideas, tips and pricing that can be shared with clients.

“We appreciate the opportunity to help PPAS members add real value for their customers and profits for themselves with custom imprinted napkins, guest towels and cups. What a great group of people!” stated Kerry Johnson, The Paper Place’s founder.

About Paper Place

Recognized as a 2019 A+ SAGE Rated Supplier (SAGE# 50777), The Paper Place is also a member of PPAI (PPAI# 612402) and Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA). The Paper Place will be showcasing its new offering, 4-color custom imprinted 3-ply napkins, during the upcoming SAGE Showcase, May 6-10, 2019 in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, Houston & San Antonio.

American Solutions for Business is proud to announce that TG Promotions has joined the team. The distributor consists of a group of nine people: 3 sales and 6 support team members and was founded by Terry Greer and his wife, Linda. They also brought on Jessica Huffman Dobosh to the sales team in November of 2017. She has experience on the supplier side of the industry, and is positioned as the future of leader of TG.

Their move was fueled primarily by technology needs: “The technology that American brings to the table will help us to become fully automated,” explains Terry Greer, co-founder of TG Promotions. “Under our old system, no less than three people would have their hands on a piece of paper because our ordering, billing, shipping and customer websites were all on different platforms that were not able to be integrated. We will immediately notice significant cost savings in the technology itself, and once we become proficient in the new platforms, the labor savings will be unquantifiable as our people will be able to focus more on sales and marketing initiatives.”

Another key motivator for the move was the culture within ASB. They realized several interesting things that stuck out about the employees – 1. Many have extremely long tenures at the company and 2. They are part of the ESOP (employee owners in a stock plan). After the group visited the home office in Glenwood, MN, met Larry Zavadil (Founder/CEO), the support team and other ASB sales associates, they decided it was a good fit.

“The Greers and their entire team have such a positive energy,” says Greg Nelson, ASB’s Implementation Manager. “They’re so easy to work with and it’s clear that our cultures mesh seamlessly.”

“We are also impressed by the comradery of the other sales people and their willingness to share their knowledge,” adds Linda Greer, co-founder of TG. “We have always been heavy in apparel and promo, but have been intimidated by the print aspect of the business. We’re excited about the opportunities to learn about new products that we can introduce into our current client base. We feel like these opportunities will enable us to easily double our business in the next 3 years.”

American Solutions for Business’ Vice President of Technology, Mike Pfeiffer, recently spoke to local students at Minnewaska Area High School’s Career Day. The school is located near Glenwood, Minnesota, where ASB’s Home Office is based. Many of these students are children of employees and some become summer interns and future employees. Therefore, for the leadership team at ASB, getting involved with area schools is always a top priority.

Pfeiffer discussed the following topics:

• Evolution of Technology – He explained, “Your smartphone is millions of times more powerful than all of NASA’s combined computing in 1969.”
• Nearly all fields involve technology today.
• AgTech (Agricultural Technology) is one of the fastest growing fields.
• Cyber Security is hot and marketable: “A 200,000 worker shortage exists and is expected to grow. Cybersecurity may be the fastest-growing career field today, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating that the field will grow 28 percent between 2016 and 2026 (average growth for all jobs is about 7 percent).”
• Don’t specialize too much in high school – make sure to be open to trying many fields. Pfeiffer shared with them that he wanted to be an accountant prior to 11^th grade.
• Don’t overlook local technical and community colleges to get your 2-year degree, get employed, leverage your education with tuition reimbursement benefits and commitment to life-long learning.
• High-speed Bandwidth (defined as 10 Mbps minimum download speed ) today is like electricity to the home for our parents’ generation. Not all homes have high-speed, but cities are under increasing pressure to meet that threshold to continue to see residents move to – instead of leave – their cities.

Much of Pfeiffer’s presentation and conversation with the students centered around the technology field on a large scale and local level so that they could understand their options in relation to their own career goals and path. ASB continues to search for more opportunities to get involved in local education, technology advances and overall contribution to our communities.

Blair Hawley has joined BIC Graphic North America (PPAI 114187) in the newly created role of chief operating officer. Hawley will lead all operations and support functions, including manufacturing, customer service, procurement, inventory, planning, supply chain and logistics for the Tampa, Florida-based supplier. He reports directly to David Klatt, CEO.

"I have a passion for continuous improvement and excellence in execution across all elements of the supply chain," says Hawley. "I look forward to bringing this passion to my new role and providing custom solutions for BIC Graphic customers."

Hawley will be directly responsible for delivering a best-in-class customer experience through implementation of key strategic initiatives that will create value and streamline processes. He brings expertise in managing global supply chains with numerous facilities and significant international workforces in highly customizable, multiple order environments.

 He holds a degree in management engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and has spent his career in supply chain management and operations. He has led business transformation efforts and developed strategic partnerships in custom business with well-known consumer brands such as Broyhill, Snuggle, Playtex, Hawaiian Tropic, Ronzoni, Remington and Timex.