I just finished putting together a technology showcase for the magazine, and it is truly amazing the wide array of products that have entered the marketplace in such a short time. USB drives seem to come in every shape and color, from credit-card size to ones tucked neatly inside a pen. It seems like only a couple of years ago they were priced well outside the promotional market (and most non-techies pocketbooks as well). Companies like Flash By Design are including widgets within the programming of the drives—creating sticky drives that automatically load programs or RSS feeds. Other companies like All-In-One Manufacturing are touting
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Bridal showers are funny things. The invitees all hem and haw about going, but it’s really just like pulling off a Band-aid. It’s never quite as bad as you anticipate.
Just add a mimosa and you can up the fun quotient on pretty much anything.
So this weekend I headed back home to Long Island for my best friend’s shower. As a member of the wedding party, I was charged with creating the centerpieces and favors for the blessed event. And as an editor at Promo Marketing magazine, I, of course, began thinking of whether or not promotional products could somehow find a niche
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I recently came across a news article on Bill Gates’ testimony before the House Committee on Science and Technology, held on March 12. As part of the hearing, Gates requested the current 65,000 cap on H-1B visas—which allows that number of foreign workers to be legally employed at U.S. companies within a given year—be removed. He argued “the shortage of trained scientists and engineers had grown so severe [in the U.S.] that it required a dramatic increase in the number of highly skilled immigrants permitted to enter the country,” according to the www.artstechnia.com Web site. Gates contended that “despite the excellence of America’s institutions
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Some people may have seen me strolling around the recent PPAI and ASI shows. I was the one with the video camera convincing unsuspecting marketing managers and sales reps to show off their companies latest products on film. Now that the editing is finished, we’ve begun posting the first of the videos. I hope that everyone will take a few minutes to check them out. You never know, the sights and sounds of the shows may just shake a few of those forgotten memories loose (whether you like them or not).
Check out all the new videos including Ball Pro, Visstun and Canyon
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The Irving, Texas-based Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) announced it has selected The Omnia Group, PPAI Travel and PPAI Fun Pass as authorized Business Partners. PPAI members will be offered benefits, including pre-employment hiring tests and consulting services from Omnia, comprehensive travel services through PPAI Travel and discounted entertainment tickets from PPAI Fun Pass. Designed to provide savings on everyday products and services, the PPAI Business Partner Program allows members to save money while they grow their businesses. From discounted shipping with FedEx to artwork conversion with ArtworkServicesUSA, PPAI offers an abundant choice of member incentives. “We want our members to get the
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Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line announced its new Tangle Hub won three awards at recent Trevose, Pennsylvania-based Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) Shows in Orlando and Dallas. In January, Prime Line received the award for Most Useful in the new product showcase at the ASI Show in Orlando, and most recently the company received awards for Most Likely To Become a Tried-and-True and Most Fun/Coolest in the new product showcase at the Dallas show in February. “We are excited and honored to receive these awards for this new addition to our line of technology items,” said Jeff Lederer, executive vice president. “This item has
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Fenton, Missouri-based Quickpoint announced it is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2008. The company was founded in St. Louis in 1928 as the Quickpoint Pencil Company, and was one of the first manufacturers of mechanical pencils in the United States. Quickpoint has been owned by the Goessling family since its inception and with president John Goessling, MAS currently at the helm is in its fourth generation of family leadership. While Quickpoint developed many patented products that have become core items in the promotional products industry, the company has also evolved into a multi-category product line supplier, featuring more than 350 items, including exclusive lines
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Eunice Seligson, widow of the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based The Selco Companies founder, Jack Seligson, passed away Feb. 24 at the age of 95 in Oklahoma City. Eunice moved to Oklahoma City in 1934 and opened Weber’s Jewelers, which later became Selco, a chain of 47 stores including Peacocks, Kays and Cardan & Co. In 1961, Larry Abels, Eunice’s son-in-law saw the opportunity to sell custom watches and in 1965 industry supplier Selco became the “Original Logo Watch Company,” the first watch company to enter the promotional products industry. In 1980, the jewelry stores were sold and today, the family’s fourth generation continues to focus on
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Pioneer Balloon Navigates Expo Wichita, Kansas-based Pioneer Balloon announced its 2008 PPAI Las Vegas Expo drawing winners. The winners of the daily drawings were David Fields, of Barker Specialty in Celebration, Fla; Jennifer Chase of Signet in Memphis, Tenn.; and Drew Davis of Specialty Incentives in Denver, Colo. One name was drawn each day of the Expo in Jan., to win a Garmin Navigator. Founded in 1917, Pioneer Balloon Company is a leading manufacturer of promotional products, branded as the Pioneer Line. It includes Qualatex and AdRite latex balloons, Qualatex Microfoil balloons, AdMax balls, and Ad Inflatable and Walking Ad Inflatable displays.
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After nearly a year in design and development, Greensboro, North Carolina-based Senator USA relaunched its Web site(www.senatorpen.com) comprised of new, interactive features to aid distributors. “We took time to research what is most important to site users,” said Jill Randolph, product marketing manager for Senator, “because we want to provide valuable and useful tools to our distributors, which they will feel safe sharing with their customers as well.” Any visitor can browse the online catalog to view client-safe details on Senator’s full line of offerings, but only distributors can log in to place an order. While the Web site makes product selection
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