At a press conference attended by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles-based American Apparel, operator of the largest garment factory in the U.S., announced the achievement of important milestones in a year of rapid global expansion of its business. The company stated its total worldwide employment recently topped 10,000 people, hiring approximately 3,500 employees since the beginning of the year. This number includes more than 2,500 manufacturing employees at its production facilities in Southern California. American Apparel now manufactures approximately 275,000 garments per day. The company also expanded its operations through the acquisition of a garment dye facility in December 2007 and a
Read MoreClegg Brings On New Veeps, Adds Sales Staff
Michael Bistocchi was recently rehired at Torrance, California-based Clegg Industries after spending the last six years on the distributor side of the industry. Bistocchi was most recently director of sales at top 40 distributorship PromoShop. Bistocchi returns to Clegg as vice president of sales. “Working with the likes of Memo Kahan, Jim Buescher, Bob Levitt, Kris Robinson and Tad Webster was like being part of the first team [industry] distributor all stars,” Bistocchi said. “The knowledge, experience and creativity flowing in and out of that place was amazing. It was a daily dose of sales, marketing and creativity with some of the top
Read MoreMediaTree Prepares New Eco-Friendly Launch
Parsipanny, New Jersey-based MediaTree, a leading supplier of music download, ringtone and other digital giftcard incentives and promotions, has turned its Web site green in anticipation of a new environmentally friendly promotional product. The new product, while not yet identified, will give distributors a unique and exciting item to offer their clients. Distributors will get the first look at MediaTree’s new green product by attending a webcast scheduled for Wednesday, October 1 at 11:00 a.m. EST. “By attending our webcast, distributors will have a competitive edge in marketing green promotions to their clients,” MediaTree’s director of marketing Michael Joliat stated. He continued, “While
Read MoreGetting Ready to Ride the Green Wave
With the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, it became clear to the entire world, especially the athletes who were competing in a heavily polluted environment, that China was far from green. In fact, the more environmental measures the country pledged, the more it seemed they were simply papering over their carbon-created cracks. Similarly, the promotional products industry isn’t exactly green, and tentative steps in that direction have been motivated more by consumer demand than by a commitment to change. Companies are succeeding, but for the industry as a whole, getting to a higher level of understanding is a struggle. “There’s been the green
Read MoreCintas Announces First-Quarter Results
Cincinnati-based Cintas Corporation reported results for its first quarter of fiscal 2009, which ended on August 31, 2008. Revenue for the quarter was $1 billion, an increase of five percent over the first quarter revenue in fiscal 2008, on a comparable workday basis. Without this workday adjustment, revenue increased 3.4 percent. Net income, which was also impacted by the lesser number of workdays, was $78.6 million, a three percent decrease from the prior year first quarter. Scott D. Farmer, president and CEO, stated, “The current difficult economic conditions are certainly impacting our customers, causing them to respond with head count reductions and facility
Read MoreMeadWestvaco to Release Third Quarter 2008 Results and Host Conference Call
Richmond, Virginia-based MeadWestvaco Corporation announced it will release third quarter 2008 results on Wednesday, October 29, before the opening of domestic financial markets. The company will broadcast its third-quarter conference call on Wednesday, October 29, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) with access available via the Internet and telephone. John A. Luke, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer; James A. Buzzard, president; E. Mark Rajkowski, chief financial officer and Jason Thompson, director, investor relations, will review the third quarter results. Following the review, questions will be taken from registered analysts and investors. About MeadWestvaco: MeadWestvaco Corporation provides packaging solutions to many of the world’s most
Read MoreProforma Promotionally Yours Makes Debut in Ingram’s Corporate Report
Proforma Promotionally Yours, of Kansas City, Mo. recently made its first appearance in Ingram’s magazine’s 2008 Corporate Report. The company was ranked as the fourth fastest-growing company in Kansas City based on its more than 741 percent increase in gross revenue from 2004 to 2007. Ingram’s Corporate Report 100 recognizes companies based on remarkable growth in gross revenue over a four-year period. In its 23rd year, the Corporate Report is an objective program that strictly evaluates companies by their percentage of growth over the specified time period. “We are very excited to be recognized by Ingram’s in this year’s Corporate Report. When we
Read MoreIf Not You,Then Who Will Guard the Global Village?
Kathie Lee Gifford changed everything. Whether she understood what was happening or not, her role in the 1995 Wal-Mart clothing sweatshop scandal was invaluable. “She was dragged into this thing kicking and screaming. But she really helped start the anti-sweatshop campaign. [In doing so,] she educated a country of 300 million people,” explained Charles Kernaghan, executive director of the National Labor Committee, a nonprofit watchdog group with a mission to protect the rights of workers around the world. Kernaghan’s group exposed the abuses occurring within the factory walls, and later would initiate an almost-obligatory United States corporate behavioral shift from simple, bottom-line profit and
Read MoreTop Ten Reasons Why Promotional Products Distributors Fail
About the Author: Kay Kotan is a published author and the founder of Independence, Missouri-based You Unlimited. She knows of many promotional products distributors (PPDs) who were not able to make it in the industry. Here are her top ten reasons why promotional products distributors fail: 10. They don’t surround themselves with the right kind of people. PPDs traditionally start out in a spare bedroom of their home—alone. Soon they have questions, but no one to turn to for answers. From day one, find a mentor to steer you along the path. Even if it costs you, it is well worth it. It will
Read MoreGarst Named Proforma’s Franchisee of the Year
Steve Garst, owner of Proforma Promotion Consultants in Stamford, Conn. was recently named Proforma’s Franchisee of the Year at the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) ninth annual Franchise Appreciation Day in Washington. The Franchisee of the Year Award was created to recognize franchisees throughout all industry sectors for their accomplishments within their business and for their contributions to spreading awareness about the franchising industry. “Being awarded the Franchisee of the Year Award by the IFA is a great honor. As a member of the Proforma family, I have personally experienced the benefits of active involvement with a franchise organization,” said Garst. “I work hard on
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