With Latest Tariff Developments, More Confusion (Mixed With Optimism)

There have been two more recent moves in the ongoing game of tariff chess between the U.S. and China. President Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. would put a hold on $150 billion in Chinese imports after China promised to increase its imports of agriculture and energy products, per Business Insider. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/998553122179084290 China, on…

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IMAGEN Brands Hires Paul Lage as President

IMAGEN Brands, parent company of Crown Products and Vitronic, announced that it has hired Paul Lage as its new president, replacing former president Lori Kates. Lage was previously at Gill-Line, where he was CEO since 2010. Gill replaced Lage with Jamie Fain last week. “We are excited to have Paul join our team at IMAGEN…

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Nike, Adidas Starting to Move Away From China, and That Says A Lot

Nike and Adidas are shifting more of their Asian manufacturing business from China to Vietnam, continuing a recent trend of companies choosing to leave China due to higher costs. According to GQ, Adidas reported that 44 percent of its shoes were made in Vietnam in 2017, up 13 percent from the previous year. During that…

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Private Equity Firm TPG Growth to Acquire HALO Branded Solutions

TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity platform of San Francisco-based investment firm TPG, has acquired HALO Branded Solutions, Sterling, Ill., from Audax Private Equity. “At HALO, we strive to provide our clients with innovative, customized solutions that showcase their brand and values,” Marc Simon, CEO of HALO, said in a press release. “TPG…

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PPAI Kicks Off Promotional Products Work! Week

Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Irving, Texas, and Promotional Products Association Of The Mid-South (PPAMS), Nashville, kicked off Promotional Products Work! Week on Friday, May 11, 2018 in Shelbyville, Tenn., also known as “The Pencil City.” Billed as the official kickoff for the national awareness event, happening this week, the event is organized by PPAMS, PPAI…

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Corporate Imaging Concepts Acquires eCompanyStore

Corporate Imaging Concepts (CIC), Northbrook, Ill., has acquired eCompanyStore, Alpharetta, Ga., creating what CIC called one of the largest promotional products distributors in the country serving major local brands, according to the Atlanta Business Journal. “Growth through strategic acquisitions is a key pillar of our strategy,” CIC CEO Bob Herzog told the Atlanta Business Journal.…

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Staples Has Laid Off More Than 200 Employees This Year

After Shira Goldman stepped down from her position as CEO of Staples in January, the company has laid off hundreds of employees. The Framingham Source estimated that 200 employees have been laid off from Staples in the 2018 calendar year. The latest round of layoffs came last week, but the exact details are currently unknown.…

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