The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has awarded QCA Accreditation to Union, Illinois-based Bag Makers.
“Bag Makers is very proud to have earned QCA Accreditation and to be part of the QCA family of companies,” said Chuck Sandford, CAS, president of Bag Makers. “The values of QCA-product safety, social compliance and environmental stewardship-are in line with our own values, and our commitment to them has been longstanding. They have been our own core business practices, and our QCA Accreditation is simply the natural next step in our evolution of differentiating ourselves in the marketplace.”
QCA Accredited companies endorse a self-certification, complete a rigorous self-assessment, and then submit their headquarters and their supply base to multiple third-party audits. The QCA board uses a scorecard representing the performance of the applicant and its supply chain on the third-party audits as the foundation for granting accreditation.
Bag Makers joins the ranks of 18 other companies that have met the rigorous qualifications to achieve QCA Accreditation—Barton Nelson Inc.; BDA Inc.; Broder Bros.; Bullet; Cutter & Buck; Dard Products Inc.; Garyline; Gemline; Gordon Sinclair; Hit Promotional Products; Jetline; JournalBooks/TimePlanner Calendars; Leed’s; Logomark; MMI; Prime Line; SnugZ USA; and Sweda Company LLC.
“As the global marketplace changes and the legislative, social and political landscapes continue to evolve, it makes sense for us to embrace a higher level of accountability to our customers,” Sandford continued. “The two-year journey wasn’t easy, but we feel it will provide us the added opportunities to grow our business by being a frontrunner in the key issues facing the future of our industry. We take great pride in this accomplishment and what it means for our business long term. QCA Accreditation enhances our value proposition to distributors that are also looking for that extra level of differentiation. Today, our customers-and their customers-can now feel secure that our products and processes are the best the industry has to offer.”
Brent Stone, QCA executive director – operations, commented, “It is nice to see the commitment to compliance from BAG MAKERS has resulted in this new QCA Accreditation. With several other suppliers also in the final auditing phase of our program, we expect the progress of new applicant accreditations to continue and the ranks of QCA Accredited Suppliers to jump. The market has clearly changed, and distributors are eager to have more QCA Accredited Suppliers from which to choose.”
For more information about QCA Accreditation and to inquire about the process and benefits received, e-mail [email protected] or visit visit www.qcalliance.org.
