Yonkers, New York-based Gemini Manufacturing, maker of Jetline, announced the launch of a free 24-hour rush service. The service, which started January 2, offers distributors access to more than 1,000 promotional solutions. “Now, more than ever, it is important to provide flexibility in buying to both our distributor partners as well as to their end-user customers,” said Jetline president Eric Levin. “Many purchasing decisions will be made with little lead time as end-users work outside of the annual budget structure that they have accustomed to in the past,” Levin concluded.
Read MoreCompany: Logomark
Breaking News: Industry Leaders Create Quality Certification Alliance
Key leaders in the promotional products industry today announced the formation of the Quality Certification Alliance, LLC (QCA), an independent, nongovernmental organization dedicated to elevating the standard in providing consistently safe, high quality, socially compliant and environmentally conscientious merchandise to Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. Executives from the organization’s founding companies officially launched QCA today at the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Expo in Las Vegas. The QCA certification process assures merchandise manufactured, imprinted and imported by member companies conforms to established domestic and international product laws, regulations and standards. QCA has garnered wide support from numerous suppliers and distributors, including Avaline; Barton
Read MoreLogomark’s New Toaster is So Toastable
Commenting on a new joint interview with John McCain and Sarah Palin, NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd described the Republican ticket as lacking cohesion, chemistry, and (he hinted) trust. Commenting on a new joint interview with John McCain and Sarah Palin, NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd described the Republican ticket as lacking cohesion, chemistry, and (he hinted) trust.
Read MoreNewton Peripherals Partners with Logomark to Expand Distribution to the $30 Billion Corporate Gifts Market
Natick, Massachusetts-based Newton Peripherals, the developer of the revolutionary MoGo family of Bluetooth-enabled products, today announced it has entered into an agreement with Logomark, Tustin, Calif., the premier supplier of personalized gifts, accessories, pens, tools and timepieces, for the company to be the authorized reseller of customized MoGo products for the corporate promotional products industry. For this market, Logomark and Newton Peripherals will offer a special combination package that includes one of the following MoGo Mouse Models—the MoGo Mouse BT, a business-card-sized mouse that stores and charges inside your laptop computer’s PC card slot; the MoGo Presenter Mouse X54TM, a combination Bluetooth-enabled wireless presenter
Read MoreO’Brien New Top Money Man at Logomark
Leading promotional product supplier Logomark Inc., based in Tustin, Calif. named Gardnar O’Brien as its new chief financial officer. Gardnar, as a key member of Logomark’s executive team, will work closely with company founders Trevor Gnesin and Neal Harper on overall corporate strategic planning. Gardnar is an accomplished CFO, having served in senior management, finance, accounting and operations roles in the promotional products, private equity, direct mail and retail industries for international, Fortune 500 and privately held companies. Most recently he was interim CFO for a $65 million importer of gift products from China. In his previous role as CFO for Sweda from 1998-2005,
Read MoreDrink and Drive Sales
VARIETY MIGHT VERY well be the spice of life, but as seasoned chefs can confirm, too much of a good thing often ruins the pot. The perfect accompaniment deliciously complements, without overpowering, a main course. Not unlike the contents of the kitchen spice rack, “Drinkware comes in many different sizes, colors and price points, so it makes a perfect option in almost every distributor presentation,” said Brian P. Padian, vice president of inside sales at Tustin, California-based Logomark. Yet, in creating success-ful drinkware promotions, distributors can benefit from the discretion, foresight and planning of the most elite culinary artists to find the right
Read MoreGiving it Away for Free
Hi. Welcome back, you.
Since I got nothing but crickets from my last post’s call for comments, I am forced to do all the heavy lifting this week. But that’s the point of having one’s own blog, I suppose. It seems you’re onto the fact I’m trying very hard to not have to think of a new topic each week. Thanks reader, for always keeping me on my toes and teaching me a life lesson to boot.
Now, let’s talk a little bit about things that are free.
First up, free editorial. Suppliers, I’m going to let you in on a not-so-hidden secret:
Logomark on the Mark-Nabs Spotlight Award for Employers
The Tustin, Calif. company Logomark, was honored on Friday, October 5, 2007, by the Regional Center of Orange County (ROCC). The center awarded Logomark one of its highest honors: The Spotlight Award for Employers. The award comes from Logomark’s multi-year efforts to work with the ROCC’s STEP program which is dedicated to assisting developmentally disabled community members and their families in seeking out living, working and learning opportunities that benefit both the community and the participants. On hand to accept the award were Quentin Irving, prep department manager, and Errol Bouchet, production manager. Other recipients of the ROCC’s annual
Read MoreGo Green (or Go Home)!
DON’T LOOK NOW, but—POOF!—the promotional products industry just went green. Green meaning, of course, eco-friendly—not violently seasick, uncontrollably jealous or oddly monochromatic. No longer is saving the earth simply a topic for college campuses and backstreet beat coffee shops. The environmental sloganeering has been replaced by actual conversation—which, it should be pointed out, never would have happened without the sloganeering—as big businesses wake up to the natural world around them. Suppliers and distributors are singing a new tune that is friendly to everyone’s ears. More importantly, end-users are purchasing environmentally responsible products and supporting conservational business practices. Even if they don’t realize it, or
Read MoreDesign in Mind
THE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS industry is a hungry beast. It feeds on new ideas, designs and innovations. It is insatiable. One product enters the scene, only to be greedily consumed and fed to end-users in an endless attempt to set a logo apart from the crowd. This is hard work for suppliers of promotional products who must continue to fulfill a demand for products possessing nebulous adjectives, such as “new,” “hot” and the oft-cited “unique.” Many suppliers are left waiting to hear of new inventions, which can then be added to a line, but a few suppliers are taking a different approach. This rebel bunch goes
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