0707_PP_Intro

ABC’s, “Dancing with the Stars” is a television phenomenon attracting viewers by the millions. Now, a growing number of pet owners are signing up to dance with their dogs. The World Canine Freestyle Organization (WCFO), Hershey, Pa., puts on Canine Freestyle dance competitions, which are active in 14 countries. This is evidence of how crazy many people are about their pets. In a way, loyal four-legged friends have become like children. People find hotels for them, arrange play dates for them, discuss their dental problems, socialize them at doggy day cares and, now, dance with them. With this kind of love, there’s no doubt

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WITH WARMEST REGARDS

FOR A PRODUCT that “provides warmth without weight; is soft to the touch; will not shrink, ravel or run; is water-resistant; has moisture-wicking properties and is easy to work with,” according to the fleecelady.com Web site, it is the opinion of this writer that fleece deserves a place in the hallowed exhibition halls of the Smithsonian, or at least a tributary wax figure in New York’s famed Madame Tussauds museum. Granted, it’s hard to think of anything having to do with warmth, much less hot wax, given the current temperatures outside. However, as sure as dawn turns into dusk, so do hot days turn into

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0707_NPA_Retraction

Retraction: In the June 2007 issue of Promotional Marketing, the article “Bagged Goods”, pg. 30-31, incorrectly reported that supplier Indigo, Mt. Prospect, Ill., manufactures the popular retail brand, Tumi. Rather, Indigo supplies the brand of high-end luggage to the trade. Tumi manufactures its own products.

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2007 Supplier Excellence Awards

OYALTY HOLDS POWERFUL sway over many people’s actions. It is difficult to settle for good when the best is just a little further. Loyalty will see the extra mile traveled, the extra call made and the extra cost paid. Often, it is a result of superior quality or superior service, while other times familiarity can be held accountable, and yet other people will have a simple affection toward a brand. This is the dream of any corporation: To be known of not as a source, but as the definitive source for a commodity. Promotional Marketing’s 2007 Supplier Excellence Awards recognize the best in more than

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Crystal D Selected Winner for 2008 PPAI Supplier Achievement Awards

Crystal D, St. Paul, Minn., was recently selected as a winner in two categories for the 2008 Promotional Products Association International Supplier Achievement Awards. The categories are “Etching-Engraving” and “Two or More Distinct Processes to Produce a Specific Visual Effect”. Crystal D submitted its crystal Columbus Award for the “Etching-Engraving” category. The item was front- and reverse-etched to create a unique visual effect. For the “Two or More Distinct Processes to Produce a Specific Visual Effect” category, a crystal NASCAR Car was submitted. The creation of the NASCAR piece included modeling the award after Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car. It was etched with each individual

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SanMar Launches 2008 Apparel and Accessories Catalog

SanMar, Seattle, is premiering its complete 2008 Apparel and Accessories Catalog in time for the fall selling season. The new 436-page catalog is SanMar’s largest catalog to date. It features more than 800 products from its proprietary brands, including Port Authority, Sport-Tek, CornerStone, District Threads and Precious Cargo, as well as Nike Golf and the PING Apparel Collection, of which SanMar holds the exclusive distribution. Three new brands—Red House, the Tiger Woods Collection and OGIO—will debut in the catalog. Red House is a luxurious collection that reflects the wine country lifestyle. The Tiger Woods Collection is performance sport shirts approved by the [famous] golfer.

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Tips of the Trade: The Epitome of Self-Promotion

By Ilise Benun, marketing mentor I [recently] ran for a seat on a local committee here in Hoboken, N.J., and, along with 10 other people on my team, I won! Talk about self promotion! This is the essence of it: knocking on doors and asking for a neighbor’s vote. One of the main marketing lessons I’ve learned so far is the importance of identifying the market—not just the general group of prospects, but the actual prospects, one by one. With limited time and resources at our disposal, we couldn’t possibly expect to campaign to all the potential voters in our district. So we

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G&G Outfitters Awarded Multiple Award Schedule Contract

G&G Outfitters, Lanham, Md., was awarded the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule Contract on Federal Supply Schedule 78 for sports, promotional, outdoor, recreational, trophies and signs for procurement of discounted promotional products and corporate apparel. Through the GSA Schedules Program, GSA establishes long-term, government-wide contracts with commercial organizations, providing federal government customers with access to more than 10 million commercial supplies and service, which can be ordered directly through the GSA Advantage! online shopping and ordering system. GSA Schedules also offer potential benefits of shorter lead times, lower administrative costs and reduced inventories. “Obtaining the Schedule 78 Contract is a huge

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