Company: PPAI

Sister Speaks

Staff Writer

I’m going to be a Big Sister soon! Well, that’s not entirely true, as I’ve been ‘big sister’ to Noelina, Ephra and Andrew for the last three decades.

I’m in the process, however, of being matched with a “Little Sister” through the nation’s oldest youth mentorship program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS), headquartered in Philadelphia.

As I was walking the showroom floor at the PPAI Expo two weeks ago, I received a call from a BBBS representative informing me that she’d found a potential match for me. I paused and listened closely to the rundown of the young

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Words To Live By

Staff Writer

I admit it, I love the man! At least I love those inspirational e-mails he sends out every week or so. Hi, Charley Johnson from SnugZ USA (I told him I would be blogging about him this week). Some of you may be receiving Charley’s e-mails. Don’t you just love them?

Well, the thing is, you can’t send a “self-help, live-your-best-life, seize-your-destiny” fiend thought-provoking, potentially life-altering quotations and not expect her to go bonkers!

I met Charley face-to-face for the first time at the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas. (It’s important that I specified “face-to-face” because we had been e-pals of sorts

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The Hat-Pak

Staff Writer

No, this isn’t an updated version of Sammy and Frank’s bunch (Brat Pack for the younger readers), just a new product I happen to like. After finally having some time to sit down and go through business cards, contacts and products from the Las Vegas PPAI show, I came across the Hat-Pak sample I received. Just one of many diverse and unique new products, I might add.
I think one of my most enjoyable conversations came in the final hours of the show. Thinking that I’d seen it all and done it all over the first three days, I

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Random Ramblings

Staff Writer

This blog is being written LIVE from the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas!
There’s so much to blog about, like the “Miss America” actresses that hoover outside the exhibit entrances (complete with red, slinky evening gowns and bejeweled crowns) directing conventioneers to a prominent apparel supplier’s booth to redeem a free shirt or the (little, old) lady that guards usage of the computers in the Internet Cafe like an angry hawk. Ahhh, sorry readers, but I’ve opted to take the high road and will instead highlight a selection of products in the famed New Product Pavilion. Perhaps, this is a topic more befitting of

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Live from Las Vegas

Staff Writer

8:37a.m. — Bright and early, here’s your loyal correspondent, blogging live from the PPAI Fashion & Accessories Show. Despite its 8:30 a.m. starting time, there’s a more-than-adequate turnout, though according to a few of my row companions, it’s considerably less than years past. The coffee hasn’t yet dispersed through my system, and I can kind of see how this could be that much more fun with cocktails instead.
8:41 — The lights dim 10 minutes late, and I can’t help but think of Marc Jacobs’ two-hours-overdue N.Y. Fashion Week opening. Good to know our industry can keep “fashionably late” from approaching diva-like proportions!
8:43

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Green – The Color of Money?

Staff Writer

I think the only word that comes to mind after attending this years’ PPAI show in Las Vegas is “Wow!” Never before have I seen such a—what’s the right word—menagerie. It was good to finally put a few faces to the e-mails, and probably even more so, it was nice meeting new people with innovative products. I think I speak for many of my coworkers when I send out a big thank you to the wonderful women at the Fresh Beginnings for providing us with what seemed to be an unending stream of cookies. And, while I’d like to admit

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Prime Line Wins Web Awards

Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line proudly announced it has been selected as a winner of the 2008 PPAI Web Award for the category of Functionality/Usability. The award recognized PPAI distributor and supplier members in five categories for creative and effective promotional products Web sites. “We are very pleased to be recognized for the improvements we’ve made on our Web site recently,” said Jeff Lederer, executive vice president. “Some new features we’ve added include live inventory check, instant order-status look up and shipment tracking, as well as fast-and-easy product searches,” he added. Prime Line will be honored at The PPAI Expo 2008 awards presentation

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Let’s Make it Personal

THE FACT IS, people enjoy taking care of themselves. And with this innate self-preservation quality of humankind, it comes as no surprise it would bring rise to a bustling promotional product category that proclaims: “It’s just me, myself and I,” as was so eloquently put by ’80’s hip-hip pioneers, De La Soul. Distributors looking to freshen up their bottom lines (and their sales pitches) should consider personal-care items. Manufacturers of these products say there are few other promotional product categories that offer the same repeat-order consistency. A 2005 survey conducted by PPAI showed personal-care products accounting for 1.58 percent of total industry sales. Just one

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PPAI Expo 2008: Exciting and Educating

On Monday, January 14 and Tuesday, January 15 at the Las Vegas Expo 2008, the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) will bring together some of the nation’s foremost sales and marketing experts to help owners take their business to the next level. Ten different paid workshops will be offered this year. Each of these workshops is designed to allow time for an in-depth analysis of the subject matter. Topics will include guerrilla marketing, financial planning, effective referral generation, and niche marketing solutions and strategies for Web site success. In addition, luncheon sessions will allow distributors to take part in the following: Developing a

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Chocolate Inn Finalist in Supplier Star Award

Chocolate Inn, Freeport, N.Y., has been voted by distributors as one of the 2008 Supplier Star Finalists in the S7 sales volume category. The company will be recognized at the 2008 PPAI Awards Night on Jan. 16, 2008, held during The PPAI Expo in Las Vegas. Company president, David Miller praised the “hard work and dedication of the entire Chocolate Inn team and multi-rep sales force” for the accomplishment. “I know that there are many suppliers to choose from in this industry and appreciate the loyalty of our distributor customers,” he said. For more information, call (800) 526-3437 or visit www.chocolateinn.com

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