Larry Maloney, vice president marketing and sales of R.S. Owens, Chicago, recently announced the hiring of David Graham as national sales director. Graham’s extensive industry background will complement and strengthen R.S. Owens’ team of Regional Sales Managers. “This is an important position for R.S. Owens to fill with a professional of David’s skill and background,” said Maloney. “He has the experience and leadership to guide the company to a new era of growth and success.” Graham has more than 17 years of experience and possesses a vast knowledge and background in the promotional products industry, most recently as an
Read MoreLeed’s® and Cutter & Buck Continue Strategic Partnership
Leed’s, Pittsburgh, a member of Polyconcept North America, the second largest supplier within the promotional products industry, announced a multiyear extension to its 2003 exclusive licensing agreement with Cutter & Buck. The agreement grants Leed’s a continuation of its exclusive rights to select non-apparel Cutter & Buck products for the promotional products industry with the potential to license additional products in the future. “Since 2003, we’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Cutter & Buck and we’re excited to continue our strategic partnership,” said Jeff Brown, vice president of marketing and product development. “Our customers insist on the best product, which
Read MoreAnvil Knitwear Takes a Strong Green Stand
New York-based apparel maker Anvil Knitwear has released its formalized environmental and social responsibility principles, acknowledging its responsibilities to the global community in which it operates. These principles are designed to inform all of Anvil’s decision making and to support its commitment to environmentally sustainable growth. “Anvil has committed itself to being an industry leader in key areas,” said CEO Anthony Corsano. “These include creating innovative and eco-friendly products at affordable prices, being a model in our industry for carbon footprint reduction and promoting socially responsible, ethical treatment of all our employees.” Anvil’s initiatives include energy and water conservation efforts, as well
Read MoreWhat Is The Secret Ingredient for Marketing & Sales Integration?
In almost 20 years of working in both marketing and sales roles, I’m consistently perplexed by the cross-departmental relationships between marketing and sales teams. Recently, I’ve been working with a number of companies to learn more about the key factors involved in integrating marketing and sales and producing increased sales revenue and ROI.
It has become clear to me that the secret lies in training both your marketing and sales teams to truly listen to your customers. This allows you to better understand your customer, their needs and the solutions and/or experiences they are looking for. Armed with this valuable information, you will be
TRG Invests in the Future, Adopts an Elementary School
In its continuing efforts to make a difference in the community, TRG Group, St. Louis, has adopted Baden Elementary School in North St. Louis County. The principal and staff are committed to the school’s mission “that every child can and will learn in a caring and supportive environment.” The majority of the 300 Pre-K through 6th Grade students are from families challenged with severe poverty. “It is staggering to comprehend that 281 out of the 300 students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program at Baden,” said event organizer Renee James, senior operations manager, corporate markets. “In years past, too many of these
Read MoreGet the Lead Out!
This, the first of my blog entries, was originally supposed to be a “nice to meet you, here’s why I think you should visit with me each week,”- type of intro. Standard fare—easy, breezy and at least vainly attempting to be funny. But, since I believe that candor is essential when forging relationships, there’s something that’s been on my mind that I’d like to share.
I’m a bit of a newcomer to the promotional products arena, but there’s one thing that has been unceremoniously drilled into my head since my very first trade show. This is an industry entrenched in its “process.” Suppliers
Be Included in Upcoming Feature Articles and Product Showcases
Each month, for both the Web site and Promo Marketing magazine, we write in-depth feature stories and create fresh showcases and reviews for a number of different product categories. We encourage our visitors to browse through the list of upcoming stories and showcases to see if they’ve had a good experience providing similar products to an end-user, or for suppliers, a product that would be appropriate to feature. We think the new magazine and Web site are going to provide a needed channel of communication between distributor and distributor, and distributor and supplier alike. January 2008 Issue of Promo Marketing: The
Read MoreNorwood Expands Sales Staff
Norwood Promotional Products, Indianapolis, recently announced a number of additions to its sales staff. Joel Jahns joined the Norwood field sales team as account manager, covering the state of Wisconsin. Prior to joining Norwood, Jahns served as the national sales manager at Mille Lacs Corporate Gifts (Gourmet Foods) in Sun Prairie, Wis., and the national accounts manager at Admanco, Ripon, Wis. Norwood has also added four inside sales representatives to its team. Christopher Dell will cover the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Dell has more than 13 years of sales and management experience.
Read MoreRiver’s End Introduces illumiNITE Performance Wear
River’s End Trading, Minneapolis, recently introduced illumiNITE Reflective Performance Wear—a new product line of lightweight jackets, long- and short-sleeve T-shirts, and accessories for men and women that features a unique head-to-toe reflectivity, making wearers fully visible to motorists both day and night. Using a patented technique of microscopic retro-reflective sataLITE DISHES that act like millions of mirrors reflecting light back to its originating source, illumiNITE technical fabrics reflects a silhouette profile that is easily recognizable as a distinctive human shape. Technical features, such as windGUARD, microBREATHE and coolDRY are used to provide protection from wind and rain, increase fabric breathability and wick
Read MoreFrom Reactive to Proactive: Redefining Safety Standards in the Promotional Industry (A Four-Part Series)
The following article is the first installment in our monthlong PM Now! series titled, “From Reactive to Proactive: Redefining Safety Standards in the Promotional Industry.” Throughout the next four weeks, we will discuss product testing, quality assurance and how both suppliers and distributors can work in tandem to ensure the items they sell are safe for children and adults alike. Part 1:Could the California Recalls Have Been Prevented? For many in our industry, the story began earlier this summer with the media coverage of toy recalls being issued from manufacturers both large, Mattel, and comparatively small, Oak Brook, Illinois-based RC2. But these incidents were only a
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