The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), Chicago, the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has awarded QCA accreditation to Charlotte, North Carolina-based JournalBooks/Timeplanner Calendars.
QCA-accredited companies have endorsed a self-certification, completed a rigorous self-assessment, and then submitted 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.
“Quality, safety and compliance have always been part of JournalBooks/Timeplanner Calendars’ fabric and core culture,” said Tim O’Boyle, general manager for JournalBooks. “Earning QCA accreditation gives our distributor customers confidence when choosing our merchandise because we have the processes in place to deliver the compliant product their end-buyer clients demand.”
JournalBooks/Timeplanner Calendars joins the ranks of 15 companies that have previously met the rigorous qualifications to achieve QCA Accreditation: Avaline, Barton Nelson Inc.; BDA Inc.; Broder Bros.; Bullet; Dard Products Inc.; Fanda Enterprises Inc. dba PromoFactory; Garyline; Gemline; Gordon Sinclair; Leed’s; Logomark; MMI; Prime Line; and Sweda Company LLC.
“With JournalBooks/Timeplanner Calendars achieving QCA accreditation and four additional suppliers in the final auditing phase, there will soon be more than 20 companies that have successfully completed the QCA certification program, with an additional 10 firms in the pipeline working toward accreditation,” said Brent Stone, QCA executive director – operations. “This is significant because more and more categories of promotional products are becoming available through QCA-accredited companies. Each quarter brings us closer to being able to deliver a comprehensive offering of compliant product to meet the ever-increasing requests from end-buyers.”
Mitch Mounger, CEO of Bellevue, Washington-based Sunrise Identity, said customers are increasingly asking for products that are manufactured by socially responsible and legally compliant suppliers.
“QCA is leading the movement in the promotional products industry to address this need, and we are pleased to see more product categories becoming available through QCA-certified suppliers,” he said. “As part of the QCA Distributor Advocacy Council, we look forward to seeing even more suppliers adopt transparent and ethically responsible practices.”
For more information about QCA accreditation and to inquire about the process and benefits received, email [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 16 companies have met the rigorous qualifications to achieve QCA Accreditation—Avaline, Barton Nelson Inc.; BDA Inc.; Broder Bros.; Bullet; Dard Products Inc.; Fanda Enterprises Inc. dba PromoFactory; Garyline; Gemline; Gordon Sinclair; Journalbooks/Timeplanner Calendars; Leed’s; Logomark; MMI; Prime Line; 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. It 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.
