River’s End Trading Company Introduces Eco-Friendly Bag Line

Hopkins, Minnesota-based River’s End Trading Company introduced a new line of eco-friendly bags by eeBags. All eeBag products are manufactured in factories certified by the independent nonprofit, the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (W.R.A.P.). The entire collection reflects a conscious concern and commitment to protect our environment.

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River’s End Trading Company Strengthens National Sales Effort

River’s End Trading, a Hopkins, Minnesota-based wholesale apparel distributor of Columbia Sportswear, has added 18 new independent territory sales executives to cover all 50 states. All of River’s End Trading Company’s 30 field sales executives have been sampled with the complete Columbia Sportswear line carried by the apparel wholesaler in an effort to increase its commitment to the Columbia Sportswear brand and to ensure promotional products distributors and imprinted sportswear decorators are properly serviced for all of their Columbia Sportswear needs.

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The Pedre Company Acquires Webster Watch

The Pedre Company, parent of industry supplier Pedre Promotional Products, announced the acquisition of the Webster Watch Company. The acquisition of the New York-based Webster’s assets includes brand names and trademarks, as well as its Avalon Watch division. “We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Webster following the completion of recent negotiations,” stated R. Peter Gunshor, The Pedre Company CEO. “Webster’s almost 60 years of operation as a manufacturer/wholesaler of timepiece products, complements our own rich 65-year history. The six members of our combined senior management team have more than 180 years of timepiece industry experience,” he added. Anthony Farello, president of Pedre

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Bodek and Rhodes Adds Six New Lines

Philadelphia-based Bodek and Rhodes, one of the leading wholesalers of imprintable activewear, recently announced the addition of six new brands of apparel and accessories to its 2009 lineup. With the early release of their annual catalog in November, Bodek and Rhodes will now offer a total of 36 brands. “It’s all about giving our customers and their clients the choices and variety they deserve,” said Mike Rhodes, president. “We’re … making sure we’ve got the hot names people are looking for like Adidas Golf, which is new for us this year. We’re also making sure we’ve got a variety of styles and accessories to

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Living in the Lap of Luxury

TIME HAS COME to answer the question, which, truthfully, has long been decided by some of the leading fashion houses: What’s in for spring? This year’s answer is not color, nor is it cut. Don’t be surprised that length is not it, either. This spring, fabrics are where it’s at. “The newest thing in business casual apparel is a gradual swing toward upscale fabrics,” noted Lee Strom, senior marketing manager at Seattle, Wash.-based SanMar. But, it’s not just any kind of fabric that’s in. “Luxury fabrics, like silk, are becoming more obtainable and are available at approachable price points,” explained Strom. Strom couldn’t be

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THE BRANDING OF AN INDUSTRY

THE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS industry is an evolving one. Case in point: a little over five years ago when this writer first came aboard the Promo Marketing (formerly Promotional Marketing) ship, there was little, if any, talk of the environment and what the industry could do to preserve it. However, within the past two years alone, it seems the entire industry has gone “green,” with both suppliers and distributors heralding their environmentally responsible business practices and industry publications dedicating entire issues to the topic. Even with the widespread attention environmental safety has received, there are other notable topics brewing in the industry these days.

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Goldfarb Launches SHOWTIME, Acquires Mid-America Showcase

Alan Goldfarb, widely regarded as the organizer of the industry’s most successful traveling trade shows, has launched his own company, SHOWTIME, LLC, Greenland, N.H. Florida’s Gold Coast Promotional Products Association (GCPPA) is the first to take advantage of SHOWTIME’s services, with an event scheduled for Oct. 10. A schedule is already announced for events in Aug., Sept. and Oct. 2007, and a full calendar of SHOWTIME events in 2008 will soon follow. Suppliers planning their exhibit schedules and budgets will receive a SHOWTIME contract before June 1, 2007. Goldfarb, a 30-year industry veteran, began his career as a distributor. He is credited with the

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