News

Industry supplier Dard Products is under new ownership. The Evanston, Illinois, company has been acquired by athletic apparel manufacturer Official Issue, which will do business in the promotional products market under the Dard Products name.

Dard was founded by Jack Shevin in 1947. The legacy was carried on by his son, Cary Shevin, who chaired the company’s board until his passing in January of this year. Cary’s daughter, Bonni Shevin-Sandy, has served as CEO and president of Dard Products for several years.

Speaking to PPB Newslink, Shevin-Sandy said the company had been approached by several potential suitors since her father’s passing, although they had not been seeking a buyer. She says, “Scott [Palmberg, owner of Official Issue] has been a friend for 10 years and we’ve worked together before. We decided to sell to Scott because of what he brings to the table. That includes a product line that doesn’t overlap with what Dard offers.”

Shevin-Sandy will consult with Palmberg and Official Issue, although she has taken a position with National Pen as global design director. She brought several of her patents with her to the San Diego, California, supplier and will work with the company on its designs and intellectual property.

Official Issue will manufacture Dard Products’ goods at a new facility in Missouri and at its Tyler, Texas, location. Along with Shevin-Sandy, several key Dard staff members and salespeople will also continue with Official Issue.

Shevin-Sandy says, “Distributors can expect to see a vast array of new items available through Dard Products. Official Issue produces more than a thousand different products and is bringing them to the promotional market. Scott’s expertise in sporting goods and private label work—he makes products for Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target and others—will also be of value to the distributor community.”

PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, recently joined the Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS) volunteer luncheon to deliver a town hall-style presentation on the state of the industry and the key issues and opportunities in play, the Association and its member companies.

“Even though most of our members deal commonly with local businesses it’s a gift to hear from the CEO of PPAI about a larger picture,” says Steven Meyer, MAS, PPAS board president. “The trends across the industry, what end buyers are telling PPAI and how PPAI plans to equip members with this information is of great interest to our members and will help them both plan and execute a more successful 2019 business plan."

Bellantone’s presentation explored the challenges facing the promotional products industry and member business growth, and the importance of creating value and differentiation in a crowded and commoditized marketplace. He also introduced PPAI’s end-buyer-focused research projects and Industry Branding Initiative, and shared research and trends regarding the size and scope of the promotional products industry and the power of promotional products relative to other advertising media.

PPAS members also raised funds for the Homeless Veterans Service of Dallas at the luncheon. The regional association raised $200 through the sale of Antiqua jackets provided by Larry Krause, MAS and custom embroidered by Rodney and Georgina Bogart of All About Bikers.

Meyer adds, “A large part of the luncheon’s focus was understandably on veterans. Both PPAS tradition and the times make it a very important to our membership to recognize and thank those who have served our country.”

The U.S. has announced an agreement with China concerning the ongoing conflict over trade between the two nations. The agreement entails both countries committing to a delay of any new tariffs for a 90-day period beginning December 1, 2018. The U.S. has imposed three lists of tariffs on Chinese imports under the Section 301 investigation conducted by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) this year, amounting to a total of $250 billion in Chinese imports being subject to increased tariffs. The latest list published by the USTR affects several products that are popular in the promotional products industry including hats, bags and a variety of other categories. PPAI has enlisted the help of an experienced trade counsel to explain the Section 301 tariffs. The finished product provides a plain language guide about the items on the tariff list that are prevalent in the industry. The trade attorney who prepared the list also delivered a webinar for PPAI members that outlines the history of the Section 301 investigation, provides updates on the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and China and offers mitigation options for managing the impact of the tariffs.

Pantone announced today that PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral is the Pantone Color of the Year for 2019. The company describes Living Coral as an animating and life-affirming shade of orange with a golden undertone.

“Color enhances and influences the way we experience life,” says Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute. “As a shade that affirms life through a dual role of energizing and nourishing, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral reinforces how colors can embody our collective experience and reflect what is taking place in our global culture at a moment in time.”

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, adds, “Color is an equalizing lens through which we experience our natural and digital realities, and this particularly true for Living Coral. With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanizing and heartening qualities displayed by the convivial PANTONE Living Coral hit a responsive crowd.”

Pantone has announced a Color Of The Year for the past 20 years. The selection goes on to influence product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, industrial design and promotional products, as well as product, packaging and graphic design.

To arrive at the Color of the Year selection each year, Pantone’s color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention.

PPAI members receive discounts on dozens of Pantone products online, including formula guides and chip books, at Shop PPAI.

Multi-line reps provide many of the most critical connections within the promotional products industry, bridging the gap between suppliers and distributors, and serving up promotional solutions, samples, ideas and expertise to clients on a regular basis. It's not an easy job, but those who do it well are highly valued by those who depend on them.
 
If your multi-line rep is a true partner in your business, nominate that person for consideration as one of PPB's Best Multi-Line Reps for 2019. Nominations are open through 5 pm on December 12. Nominees must be affiliated with a PPAI-member company and previous honorees are ineligible. Click here to access the nomination form.

Earlier this week, the White House announced that it would postpone its planned January 1 tariff escalation for 90 days following a bilateral meeting at the G-20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tariffs on approximately $250 billion in Chinese imports had been set to rise from 10 percent to 25 percent at the start of the new year.

The U.S. and China will work to come to an agreement over the two countries’ trade disputes. If no agreement is reached, the U.S.’ proposed 25-percent tariffs will go into effect on March 1, 2019. PPB Newslink reached out to several industry companies on how this news is affecting their handling of the tariff issue.

“Our position has always been that the tariff announcements and process is part of a larger negotiating approach, and it’s one more component in our pricing structure,” says Bill Mahre, CAS, president of Hugo, Minnesota, supplier ADG Promotional Products. “We’re not doing anything different with our pricing because of the G-20 announcement, as it doesn’t have an impact on our business at this time. We have a good understanding of the tariffs and their effects on our products, so we’re letting this play out and will deal with it if we get to it.”

In preparing for the originally expected January 1 jump to 25 percent, industry companies are well positioned as the increase date is pushed back.

“At Prime we were working very hard with our supply chain and vendors to bring our goods in early in anticipation of the increased tariffs. In fact, we have a significant amount more inventory than we did this time last year,” says Jeff Lederer, president of Prime Line, part of the alphabroder family. “We just want distributors to have the peace of mind knowing they could count on Prime for inventory and stable prices. We were preparing for the 25 percent, should that have been or will be instituted. Distributors working with Prime can expect stability with pricing going into the first quarter of 2019. Our goal is to be clear and transparent with how pricing might affect the market if things change with the USA and China tariff situation.”

He adds, “Prime has recently adopted a more variable pricing and product intro model where any changes would be communicated on our website Primeline.com and along all other industry platforms like the ESP, SAGE and Promostandards feeds. Since the existing tariffs were in place in September, any prices we had to adjust (higher or lower) have been in effect. It’s our goal to work closely with distributors in a transparent way and leverage our extensive supply chain, even in the face of cost pressures all around, in a way that will have the least impact to customers.”

Melissa Ralston, chief marketing officer at BIC Graphic, says, “While we are hopeful, we won’t know the full implications on the promo industry until negotiations are complete. Luckily, BIC Graphic has a broad assortment of USA-made items—nearly 50 percent of BIC Graphic’s order volume is produced in our U.S. facilities—and product sourced from other areas such as South Korea, Vietnam and India to provide additional options that will not be impacted by potential tariff increases. We expect suppliers, distributors and end users will be mindful of cost increases in all areas of their business as a result of tariff increases. Having these items available provides options for budget-conscious end users who may be dealing with other increases in costs.”

The regional community recognized its best on Tuesday evening during the 2018 Leadership Development Workshop. Roger Burnett, vice president of sales and marketing at Fort Collins, Colorado, supplier Branded Logistics, LLC, and Steven Meyer, MAS, vice president of sales at Dallas, Texas-based supplier RiteLine, were presented with the 2018 PPAI RAC Volunteer of the Year award. Lisa Bibb, MAS, executive director for the Virginia Promotional Products Association (VAPPA) and the Georgia Association of Promotional Products Professionals (GAPPP), was also presented with the 2018 Donna Hall Memorial Grant.

The PPAI RAC Volunteer of the Year award is presented annually to regional association members who have demonstrated an outstanding level of volunteerism and leadership, and who have made significant and measurable contributions to a regional association.

In accepting his award from Danny Rosin, CAS, PPAI board member, Burnett, who is president-elect of the Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) board of directors, spoke on the impact and value that volunteering has brought to his life and career: “The saying goes, people buy from people they know, like and trust, yet, it’s increasingly more difficult to create the kind of real connections we’re all searching for.

“That’s why I love volunteering so much. When you have an opportunity to work alongside other people from the industry on an item of common interest, it gives you the chance to find the people amongst you that we each know, like and consequently, trust. Volunteering, if done correctly, is one of the best ways I know to find your tribe—people who are approaching their work in a way you admire and changing the market in memorable ways.”

Meyer accepted his award from Cassondra Franze, executive director of the Promotional Products Association Southwest (PPAS), where he is the current board president. His remarks also highlighted the importance of volunteerism on his life and career. Meyer said, “I imagine that most previous recipients of this award felt as I do now—that this honor isn’t completely deserved. I mean, after all, we are volunteers. But I am so grateful for the sentiments of my peers. Each of you know how much better your life has been because of volunteering. It changed my life and it has or will change yours also.

“We all have people or groups that have special meaning in our lives. Don’t wait for them to ask for help but step forward to make a difference. I’m asking you to step forward because you have the skills, the talent, the energy and the heart they need. Step forward because we all realize, even if we do not often enough demonstrate it, love and compassion for others heals ourselves.”

Lindsey Davis, MAS, RAC president, presented Bibb (above right, with Davis) with the Donna Hall Memorial Grant, and shared her pride in presenting it to such a deserving volunteer. The grant honors the memory of Donna Hall, who served as executive director of the Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) and provides regional association executive directors the opportunity to advance their education and careers by providing financial support to attend education conferences and events.

SAGE presents rating awards to 1,374 suppliers based on distributor ratings from SAGE Online, SAGE Web, and SAGE Mobile.

Addison, TX (October 18, 2018) – SAGE announces its 2019 supplier rating award winners. Each year, SAGE presents industry suppliers with A+ and A rating awards based on distributor ratings collected in SAGE Online, SAGE Web, and SAGE Mobile, the industry’s most popular product research and business management solution.

This year, 1049 suppliers received the top A+ rating, while another 325 suppliers received an A rating. A total of 34 percent of all active suppliers in the SAGE database received an award this year. As part of the Power of Two relationship between SAGE and PPAI, suppliers with SAGE ratings are also considered for eligibility in the industry’s annual PPAI Pyramid Supplier Star Awards Competition.

“We treat our Supplier Rating Awards with the utmost respect because they are a testament to each supplier’s dedication to product safety and customer service,” said SAGE President, David Natinsky, MAS. “This is why we’re so proud to recognize our award-winning suppliers for setting the standard of quality and integrity in the promotional products industry.”

Awards are based solely on the distributor rating system that is part of SAGE Online, SAGE Web, and SAGE Mobile. The SAGE rating system is widely known within the industry for providing the most accurate and reliable supplier ratings.

Distributors can rate suppliers at any time through the SAGE suite or via a “Rate us now” link provided by suppliers. They can only rate each supplier once, however, they may update their ratings at any time, providing the most accurate representation of their experiences with each supplier. Rating awards are given each year based on the aggregate of distributor ratings and suppliers with an A+ or A aggregate rating are given an award.

Distributors using SAGE’s industry-leading research and business management tools can make more informed decisions about suppliers by accessing suppliers’ current, real-time ratings, including peer distributor comments as well as full award information, including any additional industry awards, for each supplier.

Supplier award winners 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. For more information, suppliers should contact their SAGE account executive at 800.925.7243.

About SAGE

SAGE, based in Addison, Texas, is the leading provider of information, marketing and business management solutions to the promotional products industry. In addition to SAGE’s flagship SAGE Online™, SAGE Web™, and SAGE Mobile™ research and business management services,

SAGE also provides the industry with other research services, order management, website and email services, e-commerce solutions, end-buyer catalogs, artwork services, payment processing, tradeshows, tradeshow management services, and lead retrieval software. SAGE is also the exclusive technology provider for members of the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), the industry’s non-profit association as well as Promotional Products Professionals of Canada (PPPC), Canada’s non-profit association.

For more information, please visit www.sageworld.com or call 800.925.7243.

Now in its 19th year, the annual Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) is under way this week at the DFW Hilton in Grapevine, Texas. Hosted by PPAI and the Regional Association Council (RAC), the multi-day event kicked off on Sunday evening with a reception and dinner for regional association executive directors. Monday’s schedule featured an executive director’s symposium with training designed for their specific needs and the workshop continues today and tomorrow with an extensive curriculum designed to provide regional association leadership with numerous learning opportunities through general sessions, breakout discussions and idea-sharing activities.

Regional association volunteers arrived on Monday for the RAC delegate orientation followed by a reception and the LDW opening dinner. The conference officially got under way for all attendees this morning with an opening keynote by Jess Ekstrom, founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope.

“LDW is so important to the regional community because it is a time to learn together and inspire each other as we prepare for the year ahead,” says Lindsey Davs, MAS, RAC president. “When I attended this event as a regional board member, I took so much knowledge away from the breakout sessions, but some of my best ideas came from conversations in between the sessions with my fellow attendees.”

Bill Petrie, RAC vice president, adds, “LDW is the foundation of grass-roots volunteerism in the industry and where professionals across the country assemble, share best practices and leave with a clear knowledge of how to best serve their regional communities. The 2018 LDW should truly stand out with a fantastic mix of specific education and tremendous networking opportunities. As a long-time attendee of this event, it’s wonderful to see it evolve to better provide the guidance each regional board needs to succeed.”

This year, LDW welcomes nearly 150 volunteer leaders representing all 27 regional associations as well as PPAI board members. Today and Wednesday they will participate in their choice of 21 education sessions presented by regional leaders, PPAI staff and outside subject matter experts, plus take part in the many opportunities for idea sharing and networking.

“While every regional is unique, the challenges they face are not and LDW serves as a think tank of sorts to tackle some of the community’s largest challenges,” says Dana Geiger, PPAI regional relations manager. “It is also an opportunity to network and meet like-minded professionals. Many will say that the relationships created at LDW have been vital in their professional careers.”

Davis says, “This year’s stand-out aspect for me is watching new attendees have their ‘aha’ moment about what makes this community so special. LDW is a great event for inspiring new leaders in the regional community and it is a pleasure to watch it happen!”

At an off-site reception and dinner this evening, Roger Burnett, vice president of sales and marketing at Fort Collins, Colorado, supplier Branded Logistics, LLC, and Steven Meyer, MAS, vice president of sales at Dallas, Texas-based supplier RiteLine, will be formally recognized as the 2018 PPAI RAC Volunteers of the Year for their leadership and contributions to the regional association community. Also tonight, RAC will present Lisa Bibb, MAS, executive director for the Virginia Promotional Products Association (VAPPA) and the Georgia Association of Promotional Products Professionals (GAPPP), with the 2018 Donna Hall Memorial Grant. Established by the RAC board in 2013, the grant provides regional association executive directors with financial support to attend education conferences and events and advance their education and careers. Read more about the award winners in Thursday’s PPB Newslink.

IMAGEN Brands, parent company of suppliers Crown Products (PPAI 113430) and Vitronic (PPAI 114197), has announced a new partnership with Portland, Oregon, supplier ShedRain (PPAI 112963) as part of its continued expansion strategy. IMAGEN Brands is now the exclusive supplier of all ShedRain products in the promotional products industry; it will no longer supply any other brands of rainwear.
 
"Shedrain is an umbrella brand with a global retail presence who recognized that IMAGEN Brands is known as a successful brand champion in the promotional products industry," says Paul Lage MAS, president of IMAGEN Brands. "We are excited that we could create this strong partnership with a company that shares the same standards and values. Our customers will be the true beneficiaries of this relationship for years to come."

IMAGEN Brands will assume all sales, marketing and decorating of ShedRain products and will move production to Missouri to create more centralized distribution with shorter delivery times nationwide.