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July:
- Postal Service Proposes Price Change
The U.S. Postal Service Governors recommended increasing the price of a first-class stamp 2 cents to 46 cents and authorized the production of a pane of four evergreen tree branches as the newest image for Forever Stamps. The price of a postcard would increase 2 cents to 30 cents.
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- AddVenture Product's Kathleen Milbier on Counselor / ASI 2010 Hot List
The Hot List is made up of People in the industry who are taking an interesting approach to business, shaking up the status quo or simply networking like a maniac at all hours of the night. People who are making the industry a unique marketplace that's fun and energetic.
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June:
- Cotton Cost Increase Rapidly
According to the National Council of Cotton, world cotton prices are now about 50% more than last year at this time
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May:
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Hanes donates 50,000 pairs of pantyhose to Fight Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Hanesbrands announced today that it is donating 50,000 pairs of Hanes, L’eggs and Just My Size pantyhose to be used by nonprofit and grassroots volunteer groups that are making oil-absorbing hair booms to fight the Gulf Coast oil spill.
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April:
- WorkflowOne Partners With Puerto Rican Distributor
Dayton, Ohio, distributor WorkflowOne (UPIC: SF00001) has formed a partnership with San Juan, Puerto Rico, distributor ALAS Technical Products
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March:
Bodek and Rhodes, Philadelphia, a leading wholesaler of imprintable activewear, announced its partnership with apparel and accessories manufacturers adidas and TaylorMade
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February:
- Budgets For Incentives Increase in 2010
About one-third of companies will increase their budgets for merchandise/non-cash incentive programs in 2010, according to a Pulse survey released last week by the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) in New York.
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January 2010:
- Industry Stepping Up To Assist In Haiti Relief
The generosity of the promotional products industry has begun to overflow to fill the needs in earthquake-devastated Haiti.
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- Hiring Freeze Begins to Thaw in Promotional Products Industry:
According to a recent report, many companies are beginning to consider staffing up. After cutting staff down to the bone, a number are looking to add more employees, and at the same time fewer companies are planning layoffs, according to Careerbuilder.com.
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September 2009:
- Sunrise Identity voted Best Place to Work according to ASI's Counselor Survey:
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July 2009:
- Florida Governor Visits BIC Graphic USA
On July 14, 2009, BIC Graphic USA hosted Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. The primary purpose of the visit was for Gov. Crist to gain a better understanding of the promotional products industry, to tour the BIC facility and to meet BIC Graphic employees.
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June 2009:
- General Motors, Citigroup to be cut from the Dow
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The closely watched Dow Jones industrial average reshuffled the deck on Monday, removing both General Motors Corp GM.N and Citigroup Inc (C.N) in a widely anticipated move.
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May 2009:
- PPAI Receives Platinum Creative Award
Irving, Texas-based Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) announced its business media group received a Platinum Award in the 2009 Hermes Creative Award competition judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The team was recognized for its PPAI Publications Pub-opoly game, a customized Monopoly-like board game that was created as a tool to generate awareness of PPAI’s full range of publications. Advertising manager Melissa McGrath-Klusmeyer worked with PPAI supplier member Late For The Sky Productions in creating the customized board game, which was a component in this year’s “Get In The Game” publications marketing campaign.
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March 2009:
- AIA Receives Franchisee Satisfaction Award
Neenah, Wisconsin-based Adventures in Advertising (AIA) announced for the third consecutive year it has received the Franchisee Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review.
January 2009
- Adidas brings customization to its wholesale print catalogs
Adidas will ad greater customization to its quarterly wholesale catalog through the use of digital, variable data printing. Product assortments will be customized for each recipient. "Not only does this produce a smaller, more cost-efficient mailer, it also gives wholesalers better control of their assortment, ensures their marketing materials are implemented more accurately and lets them address the needs of each reseller," says Mike Wychocki of Haggin Marketing.
December 2008
DMNews gathered the best and brightest ‘whiz-kids' in the industry to present its first-ever “30 under 30” list -- thirty finalists that were judged on their proven ability to lead teams, initiate change and growth, drive measurable results for companies or clients and deliver fresh insight into the marketing challenges in the direct, database and interactive marketing industry.
November 2008
- ASI Announces Results of Advertising Specialties Impressions Study
According to an ASI study, the most cost-effective advertising medium beating out TV, radio and print are advertising specialties. Travelers from major cities throughout the US were interviewed revealing that return on investment is highest than other forms of media. The key findings include:
- 84% of people recall the advertiser on a product they were given.
- 42% have a more favorable impression of an advertiser after receiving the promotional product.
October 2008
- Some Businesses, Industries Thrive During Bear Markets
According to Forbes magazine's recently released issue, "The Other Economy" here are some of the "surviving fittest": Health Care, Pharmacies, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Software/technology solutions, Jet/Airliner maintenance, Farmers, Soup and Convenience Food, Liquor
September 2008
- Postal Service Changes Bulk Mailing Requirements
The United States Postal Service has proposed new standards that could cost businesses dearly in penalties for mass mailings. The new requirements for the USPS' Move Update program would require businesses to update their bulk-mailing lists every 95 days, instead of every 185 days. Companies that fail to comply can be charged seven cents for every piece of mail in a mailing, not just the undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) pieces.
- McCain’s Lead Grows Among ASI Members
America may keep changing its mind over its presidential candidate of choice, but ASI members remain as certain as ever. The results of a survey placed on ASICentral.com reveal that distributors and suppliers as a whole prefer John McCain to Barack Obama by a margin of 54% to 43% – a lead that has increased by three points since July. The total matches the current sentiments of U.S. households, which prefer McCain to Obama 48% to 45%, according to the results of a Gallup poll released this week. In contrast, a Gallup poll from July had Obama leading 45% to 42%.
August 2008
- Brown & Bigelow Purchases Bright Advertising
Brown & Bigelow (/asi/148500/) has announced its acquisition of Boise, ID-based distributor Bright Advertising (/asi/146000/). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The purchase of the 52-year old company with annual revenues between $1.5 million and $2 million includes the assets, accounts receivable, inventory and equipment, as well as the Bright Advertising name.
Brown & Bigelow has hired seven of Bright's salespeople as well as former owner Gary Smith, who will remain with the company as sales executive. Smith's daughter, Felice Seaman, will also remain with the company and assume the role of regional office manager. Brown & Bigelow also signed a three-year deal with Smith to lease the company's building.
July 2008
- PPAI Opposes Voluntary PhRMA Code Restricting The Distribution of
Medically Relevant Logoed Items
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) board of directors has announced modification of the PhRMA code on interactions with health care professionals. Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) strongly opposes this code as it "severely and unjustifiably constrains the use and distribution of promotional products to health care professionals."
The new PhRMA code will take effect in January 2009. Under the terms of the voluntary code, all non-educational items are not to be offered to health care professionals or their staffs. PhRMA will still support the distribution of items designed for the education of patients or health care professionals if the items are $100 or less and do not have value to the health care professional outside of his or her professional responsibilities.
June 2008
- PPAI Team Recognized for Communication Excellence
Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) has been recognized for excellence in communication by the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP).
PPAI was recognized in the category of advertisements - single piece for a full-page ad created for use during Advertising Week. PPAI had the opportunity to include the ad in the event guide that was distributed to all attendees, and polybagged with AdWeek, Advertising Age, BrandWeek and more. PPAI used this opportunity to create an ad that addressed the unique properties of promotional products utilizing PPAI's end-buyer message: "Come to your senses, experience the power of promotional products."
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to view the award-winning ad.
- Staples Acquires Corporate Express; Forms Largest Industry Distributor
After increasing its offer three times over the past four months, office products retailer Staples has finally won its battle to take over its rival office products distributor Corporate Express. While Staples had been making its case to Corporate Express shareholders this year in a hostile bid, Corporate Express management agreed to the sweetened offer. The deal is valued at $2.6 billion (1.68 billion euros), and Staples said that it agreed to pay $14.33 (9.25 euros) per share for the Dutch company. That offer is 28% more than Staples' initial bid in February.
Staples, the parent company of Staples Promotional Products (asi/334634), the division that was formed after the office products retailer purchased American Identity last year, now hopes to close the deal for Corporate Express, the parent company of Corporate Express Promotional Marketing (asi/168786), by later this summer. Peter Ventress, CEO of Corporate Express, will now become president of Staples International and he will oversee Staples' business outside of the United States and Canada and play a key role in managing the integration of the two businesses going forward. He will report to Ron Sargent, Staples' Chairman and CEO.
May 2008
- Expansion and Explosive growth for AddVenture Products
AddVenture Products (UPIC: COMPREST) announced that on May 1st, 2008 it will move its company headquarters and manufacturing into a new 32,000 square foot facility.
AddVenture, founded in 1981, is the creator of the “Original CompressT” and has recently expanded into multiple product lines to service the extraordinary growth and increased demand from it’s customers.
April 2008
- ASI announces record sales in 2007
ASI announced that the advertising specialty industry recorded revenues of $19.6 billion in 2007, a 5.4% increase over the $18.6 billion in sales in 2006.
- Corplogoware President, Jack Levine, passes away.
CorpLogoware president and CEO, Jack Levine dies of a massive heart attack following a tumultuous period where his company folded under a mountain of debt in excess of $25 million owed to suppliers and vendors.
- Woody Allen sues American Apparel
Legendary filmmaker Woody Allen sued American Apparel(UPIC: AMER9421) for $10 million in California and New York for using his image without permission and dressed as a Rabbi on billboards. The statement indicated "Allen does not engage in the commercial endorsement of products or services in the United States," according to the lawsuit.
- Norwood promotes Phil Lage
Norwood(UPIC: NORWOOD) promoted Phil Lage to the position of CEO and a position on the board of directors of the company.
- Corplogoware ceases operations
In a letter to associates the Chief Financial Officer, Bob Evers of CorpLogoware announced after an unsuccessful search for a buyer to keep operations afloat, Alpharetta, Georgia-based distributor CorpLogoWare, LLC (UPIC: CLW) was closing its doors.
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