End-buyers are mandating that the promotional products they purchase do no harm by jeopardizing the health or safety of recipients. That’s not an unfair expectation, as suppliers and distributors are supposed to be enhancing their clients’ brands, not putting brand reputations at risk by selling noncompliant product.
To meet the marketplace demands, suppliers have begun taking proactive steps to implement compliance programs that deter and detect unsafe products. Irwindale, California-based Calibre International is the latest supplier to apply to participate in the comprehensive compliance program developed by the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products. Today, QCA Certified Suppliers represent more than $2 billion in promotional products sales.
“The safety and compliance of our products has always been extremely important to Calibre International,” said Daniel Oas, founder and CEO of Calibre International. “We believe that the QCA Certification process will not only improve our current testing and compliance program, but it will also allow us to achieve the nationally recognized QCA Accreditation that will bring peace of mind to our customers and ultimately their end-user clients.”
Calibre International has begun the initial self-certification phase, which is followed by a rigorous self-assessment. Once these are complete, the company then submits its headquarters and supply base to multiple third-party audits. Finally, 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.
“QCA is pleased with the addition of Calibre International to the growing roster of suppliers who have entered into the QCA new applicant process,” said Brent Stone, executive director – operations for the Quality Certification Alliance. “We continue to see an expansion of the categories that are or will soon be available from QCA Accredited Suppliers. This is primarily being driven by the growing number of distributors who are choosing QCA Accredited Suppliers as the cornerstone of their product safety and compliance program solutions for their Fortune 1000 clients.”
“These industry-leading distributors simply cannot put their hard-earned client relationships at risk by transacting with companies that have under-developed supply chains,” Stone added. “The movement toward collaborative solution-providing is perhaps one of the most exciting, positive yet unintended consequences of the QCA Certification Program.”
For more information about QCA Accreditation and to inquire about the process and benefits received, contact [email protected].
About QCA
Chicago, Illinois-based Quality Certification Alliance is an independent accreditation organization whose mission is to elevate the standards by which industry firms that import and/or manufacture promotional products provide consistently safe, high-quality, socially compliant and environmentally conscientious merchandise. QCA Accreditation is granted to companies who complete an independent third-party audit and comply with stringent standards, which are based upon a combination of state and national laws, international standards and industry-accepted best practices that are recognized for their strength and effectiveness by QCA Accredited companies, the promotional products industry and end-user clients.
QCA was formed in July 2008, and today 19 companies have meet the rigorous qualifications to achieve QCA Accreditation—Avaline; Barton Nelson Inc.; BDA Inc.; Broder Bros.; Bullet; Cutter & Buck; Dard Products Inc.; Fanda Enterprises Inc. dba PromoFactory; Garyline; Gemline; Gordon Sinclair; Jetline; Journalbooks/TimePlanner Calendars; Leed’s; Logomark; MMI; Prime Line; SnugZ USA; and Sweda Company LLC—with others soon to complete the process.
In July 2010, the QCA Distributor Advocacy Council was created to formalize the relationship the organization has with distributors who understand the value compliance programs have in building stronger relationships with suppliers, creating competitive advantage in the marketplace and building loyalty with their end-buyer clients. In is currently comprised of 10 companies, which represent more than $700 million in annual promotional products sales.
D E (Denise) Fenton serves as executive director – compliance, and Brent Stone serves as executive director – operations.
For more information, visit www.qcalliance.org.
