Yorktown Heights, New York-based GAME Sportswear, an apparel supplier specializing in athletic jackets, teamwear and workwear for more the 30 years, announced that its made in the USA varsity jackets have a starring role in the music videos, stage shows and TV appearances of international music star Wyclef Jean. “The initial order was for purple and white varsity jackets to be featured in the video for the song ‘Sweetest Girl.’” said Les Tandler, GAME executive vice president. “We then received an order for several dozen more of a new color combination and decoration design for a second video for the song “Fast Car”
Read MorePioneer Line Honors Reps
Pioneer Balloon, based in Witchita, Kan. recognized its oustanding reps at a recent meeting during the 2008 PPAI Expo in Las Vegas. The first service award went to Michael Duke with Henrickson Associates of El Dorado Hills, Calif., for his one-year anniversary with Pioneer. Hendrickson covers Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The second service award went to Nancy Jolly of In Stepp Marketing, Lawrenceville, Ga. She received her 15-year anniversary pin. Jolly’s territory includes Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The prestigious Rep of the Year award was presented to Nancy Bercovitz for the second year in a row. Bercovitz is
Read MoreAsh City USA Announces Headden as Vice President, U.S. Sales
Lenexa, Kansas-based Ash City USA announced the appointment of Howard Headden to the position of vice president, U.S. sales, based out of Chicago. Working along with Chris Clark, the two will be responsible for all Ash City sales activities within the United States. Headden comes to Ash City with more than 22 years experience with suppliers, customers and end-users. He has an extensive apparel background from working with such companies as Tehama, Starter and Gear for Sports and additionally has spent time with Gemline in both the U.S. and Canada. With his broad knowledge of the North American marketplace and his familiarity with the
Read MoreiPROMOTEu Announces Industry-Wide Dunk Fest 2008
Wayland, Massachusetts-based iPROMOTEu announced the establishment of Dunk Fest 2008, the first ever NCAA college basketball tournament challenge exclusively for the promotional products industry. The goal of Dunk Fest is to create enthusiasm and spirit, and to foster friendly competition, among those working in the promotional products industry. Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), based in Trevose, Pa., and Norwood Promotional Products of Indianapolis are also sponsoring Dunk Fest 2008. In years past, iPROMOTEu organized a tournament challenge just for its affiliates and preferred suppliers. This year, iPROMOTEu decided to open up its tournament challenge to the entire promotional products industry. Four winners will be recognized
Read MoreU-S-Beautiful
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
Read MoreHere Comes the Bridal Promotion
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
Bill Gates: American Workers Not Smart Enough???
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
Read MoreSupplier Candid Camera (or New Product Videos)
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
Read MorePPAI Adds Three New Partners, Three New Perks
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
Read MoreAll Tangled Up At Prime Line
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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