Dan Jellinek has joined Miami-based PromoCard Services as director of business development. In this role he will be responsible for leading the company’s marketing department, managing the sales force and maintaining relationships with national accounts. Prior to joining the company, Jellinek was executive vice president for Corplogoware of Alpharetta, Ga. “Servicing distributors for the past six years at [Corplogoware] has given me the insight to truly understand their needs,” commented Jellinek. “I could not be happier about joining PromoCard Services and look forward to putting this knowledge to good use as a supplier.” “Dan brings a tremendous amount of energy and passion for the
Read MoreEnnis Adds Magnetic Paper Capabilities
Midlothian, Texas-based Ennis Inc. announced its Wolfe City, Texas facility now has the capability of printing on Magnecote—a magnetic paper that can be perforated, die-cut, laminated and can bend, tear, fold and roll. Magnecote is a cost-effective way to produce a magnetic product. It is lighter than traditional magnets, which creates immense savings for direct mail and shipping purposes. Magnecote can be used in nearly every way paper is used, including direct mail, advertisements and picture frames. Magnecote is as durable as a magnet, but as versatile as paper. Chuck Hester, general manager of the company’s Wolfe City location said, “Printing on Magnecote gives
Read MoreS&S Activewear Celebrates 20 Years with Open House
On April 25, S&S Activewear, a leading distributor of imprintable sportswear, celebrated its 10th annual open house with approximately 1,950 guests at its headquarters in Bolingbrook, Ill. In addition to thanking all customers and vendor partners, S&S Activewear used this year’s open house to commemorate its 20th year in business with special anniversary promotions and giveaways. The event also offered guests the opportunity to see firsthand the company’s new products for 2008, meet employees and talk directly with manufacturers in a trade-show format featuring 38 booths—a record number of participants for the event. According to Margaret Crow, marketing director for S&S Activewear, the continued
Read MorePro Towels Etc. Begins Distribution of the Cutter & Buck Golf Towels
Pittsburgh-based Pro Towels Etc. announced it will begin to distribute the Cutter & Buck golf towel collection under a new license for the promotional products industry. After announcing the agreement in early January of this year, Dana Zezzo, vice president of sales at Pro Towels Etc. has been presenting the product line to national accounts and at regional trade shows. He said, “The preliminary response in the marketplace has been overwhelmingly positive as a natural addition to the already established Cutter & Buck offerings. We are excited to carry on the Cutter & Buck tradition of quality.” The line offers six styles of premium,
Read MoreBodek and Rhodes Launches Educational Organic Web Site
In an ongoing effort to educate the imprintable sportswear industry on environmentally friendly choices, Philadelphia-based Bodek and Rhodes launched a Web site dedicated to providing information on organic cotton. The company, a leading wholesaler of imprintable activewear, created its “Organic Apparel Selling Guide” to coincide with the introduction of a host of new organic and eco-friendly styles. “Our goal is to train 5,000 people on what makes organic cotton so special and important. We started with the industry’s first Organic Theater at the trade shows, and the Web site was just the natural extension to reach more people,” said Mary Ellen Pahlka-Hudicka, marketing communications
Read MoreRaining Rose Fifth Year on Inc.’sList of Inner City 100
For the fifth consecutive year, Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Raining Rose has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of America’s fastest-growing urban businesses, ranking 37th on the 2008 Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC)/Inc. Magazine Inner City 100. This is Raining Rose’s highest rank to date. For the 2008 list, more than 6,500 new nominations were received, the most in the program’s history. “After five years of hard work it is an honor to be continually recognized for our continued growth,” said Chuck Hammond, president and CEO of Raining Rose. “I believe our day-to-day efforts are truly what create this environment for
Read MoreBoundless Network Acquires Minneapolis Promotional Products Distributor GWS
Austin, Texas-based Boundless Network, a leader in professionalizing the promotional products industry, announced the acquisition of Minneapolis-based GWS, Inc. The deal will enable Boundless Network to leverage its patented technology platform and the GWS sales force to significantly expand sales in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. “With its impressive customer base and long history in Minnesota, [GWS] represents a very strategic acquisition for Boundless Network,” said Boundless Network CEO Jason Black. “Minneapolis is a large metropolitan area with large corporate opportunities under served by traditional distributors. GWS has a talented and progressive sales force that can utilize Boundless’ sales and technology offerings to significantly grow
Read MorePrime Line Releases Spring/Summer Catalog
Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line proudly announced the release of its spring/summer 2008 catalog. The new catalog showcases 100 seasonal items ranging from everyday water bottles, coolers and beach bags to unique new items like Prime Line’s exclusive Pop-Top Chiller— a can holder with a bottle opener built into the base. The Spring/Summer catalog displays Prime Line’s effort to provide distributors with one-of-a-kind seasonal ideas for every customer with prices starting under a dollar. The catalog includes items for the outdoors, including a hammock, beach mats and tents, beach totes, barbecue grilling sets, a wide assortment of coolers, and can chillers. It also highlights
Read MorePrivate But Not Peculiar
Understanding the purpose and provisions of private label apparel THE KEY TO anything is to first understand it and then decide how best to use it. Consider the human tear duct and its byproduct. It is widely understood tears are the body’s mechanism for cleansing the eyes of foreign objects as well as for lubricating the eyeballs. However, most people would readily agree that tears are best used to pull at heart strings and ultimately to get one’s way! Although customized promotional apparel is hardly anything to cry about, the same principle applies to the notion of private labeling in the industry. The
Read MoreSTREET Smarts
RETAIL TRENDS HAVE been inching their way into the promotional apparel market for some time now, but none have made quite as much headway as urban wear (comparatively speaking, of course). For the past two years especially, it’s been the embodiment of what is considered fashion-forward in the current market, and is showing no signs of fatigue. To help distributors ride the wave successfully, Promo Marketing has developed a primer for integrating the latest urban trends into today’s apparel promotions. LESSON 1: MARKING TERRITORY The argument’s as old as that one about the chicken and the egg. The demand for trendy
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