If one thing became clear this year regarding product responsibility, it’s there will never be a time when suppliers can sit back and sigh in relief that they’ve finally mastered the safety jive everyone’s been talking about. The reason is simple: just when a company feels it’s got its groove down pat, a few new moves get thrown in, the music falls out of time and toes are inevitably squashed. But the beat goes on. Product-safety education is an ever-evolving quagmire of state and federal legislation, new studies uncovering the next potentially dangerous chemical and pending product recalls. This article is a comprehensive overview
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Wright Enterprises Promotes Klepec to Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Portland, Oregon-based Wright Enterprises Holding Co.—parent company of Wright Business Graphics, Wright Imaging and Wright Business Graphics of California—announced the promotion of Gordon Klepec to vice president of sales and marketing. In this newly created position Klepec will be directly responsible for managing all sales and marketing initiatives for the Wright family of businesses. “Gordon has the knowledge, desire and requisite leadership skills necessary to be successful in this critical role for the company,” commented Dan Adkison, president and COO. “Customers are looking to align themselves with manufacturers [who] are innovative, flexible and responsive. Gordon has done an excellent job of working with our
Read MoreHALO/Lee Wayne’s National Sales Meeting Sets Records
HALO/Lee Wayne, based in Sterling, Ill., set supplier and account executive attendance records at their recently concluded 2008 National Sales Meeting at The Resort at Squaw Creek in Lake Tahoe, California. Over 180 of the industry-leading firm’s top account executives attended the week long event, representing over $90 million in annual sales volume from participants. The meeting featured a trade show with over 120 of the company’s preferred suppliers, combined with two days of preferred supplier small-group training sessions. Set amidst the pristine beauty of Lake Tahoe, evening events included a dinner “sunset cruise” on Lake Tahoe, as well as a closing ceremony in
Read MoreProducer of Give-Away Lunchboxes Ordered to Pay $10 Million
L.A.-based lunchbox maker sold 100,000 lead-tainted lunchboxes to the state. Oakland, CA -In San Francisco Superior Court yesterday, Judge Richard A. Kramer ordered L.A.-based T A Creations to pay $10,071,500 for the company’s violation of California law when it sold lead-tainted lunchboxes to the state for a Health Department give-away promotion. Click here to read the complete news release. Source: Center for Environmental Health, www.cehca.org
Read More$10 Million Lead Paint Fine and Other Industry News
Though the topic has been out of the news spotlight, we shouldn’t forget about the lead paint issue that effects the promotional products industry. While no one knows how wide-spread the problem is, it is nice to see companies are beginning to be held responsible for their actions.
Producer of Give-Away Lunchboxes Ordered to Pay $10 Million
L.A.-based lunchbox maker sold 100,000 lead-tainted lunchboxes to the state.
Oakland, CA -In San Francisco Superior Court yesterday, Judge Richard A. Kramer ordered L.A.-based T A Creations to pay $10,071,500 for the company’s violation of California law when it sold lead-tainted lunchboxes to
Colter & Peterson Installs Perfect Binder for SanMar
Paterson, New Jersey-based Colter & Peterson, North America’s only distributor for the complete line of Wohlenberg perfect binders, completed installation of a Wohlenberg City 5000 perfect binder for Seattle-based SanMar Corporation, the largest apparel and accessory supplier in the U.S. for the imprintables industry in the company’s Issaquah, Wash. facility. “This is a big upgrade compared to the system SanMar had in terms of speed, quality and binding,” said Tom Welby, vice president of perfect binder products for Colter & Peterson. According to Mark Suda, production supervisor for SanMar’s catalog printing department, the new arrival will increase productivity. “We’re excited about adding the perfect
Read MoreA PROPOSITION YOU CAN’T REFUSE
EVER SINCE PRODUCT recalls hit the promotional and retail sectors this past summer, Proposition 65 has been the watchword on the lips of both suppliers and distributors. With the start of the 2008 trade show season, the sense of greater awareness became especially evident. “Prop 65 compliant” signage is more prominently displayed. Education programs on the law are offered. And suppliers are adopting product designations and new testing procedures to ensure they’re keeping pace with Prop 65, which is said to be the most strict product-safety law in the country. Otherwise known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986,
Read MoreRaynor Promoted, Serwer Joins Journalbooks
Journalbooks/Timeplanner Calendars, Charlotte, N.C., has announced the promotion of Jamie Raynor to national sales manager, effective immediately. Raynor has worked at Journalbooks for more than eight years and most recently served as creative sales director. She will continue to lead the creative team, and in her new role, will work directly with Tim O’Boyle, vice president of sales, to develop the company’s inside and outside sales teams, in addition to managing national accounts. “Jamie brings 20 years of advertising, printing and promotional product experience to our clients,” said O’Boyle. “Her ability to create marketing solutions with our products is unparalleled in the industry,
Read MoreBoundless Network Acquires Street Smart Promotions
Boundless Network, based in Austin, Texas, a leader in professionalizing the promotional products industry, announced the acquisition of San Diego-based Street Smart Promotions. The deal, part of Boundless Network’s nationwide acquisition strategy, includes offices in California, Florida and Texas. “Boundless Network’s acquisition of Street Smart Promotions represents a great win for both companies,” said Boundless Network CEO Jason Black. “Jill Sands built a great business. Yet, she saw that joining Boundless Network would provide her employees with the opportunity and tools to achieve even greater success.” Street Smart Promotions, founded in 1997, over the years has grown steadily as key employees left San Diego
Read MoreSURVIVAL OF THE Fittest
FROM THEIR INCEPTION as appropriate-for-daytime-wear wardrobe standby (or inappropriate, depending on who’s doing the judging), T-shirts have been the put-upon younger brother of the apparel clan. Slacker. Underachiever. Slob. Uniform of the basement-dwelling video-game player, or worse, the go-to garment for sweaty work outside or on a treadmill. Yet, in the last 10 years or so, there’s been a bit of a shake-up in the hierarchy. T-shirts grew up. In fact, they became king. In an effort to emanate a more offbeat vibe, many designers began adding them to their collections, emblazoned with rock-and-roll icons and/or ironic witticisms. Likewise, in a nod toward
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