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In The News - September 2020

Facilisgroup announces REBOUND-Q4, a virtual event focused on how to succeed in Q4 of this incredibly challenging year. REBOUND-Q4 will include practical insights, interactive learning opportunities and breakout sessions, as well as product-focused presentations from some of Facilisgroup’s preferred suppliers. In addition, Tim Andrews, president and CEO of ASI, will share insights on the State of the Industry and host a town hall with all attending.

North Georgia Promotions has been voted Best Promotional Products Company of North Atlanta for 2020 in a survey from Appen Media Group.

Premier Catalog Group has announced the additions of Portland, OR-based 1338Tryon Inc. (asi/287946) and Fredericktown, MO-based Cap America (asi/43792).

Reciprocity Road BrandGood Ambassadors recently voted to support the efforts of the Visioning a Greater Racine, WI, with a grant of $500.00, which will be going to support its mission to develop a flourishing place residents are proud to call home.

Storm Creek (asi/89879) welcomes Lynette Dunsworth as director of sales and customer experience. “She is an extremely experienced entrepreneurial executive with a proven ability in sales, strategic, planning, operations and more,” said Storm Creek CEO Teresa Fudenberg. “We are so excited to have her vast knowledge and perspective on our team to help ensure Storm Creek continues its strong growth trajectory into 2021 and beyond.”

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) has elected four industry veterans to serve on the Board of Directors. Joe Favre of Vanguard (asi/350665) and Jeff Jacobs of Jack Nadel International (asi/279600) joined the board, and Christian Brandt and Michael Reisbaum of Blue Generation (asi/40653) returned for their second terms. All terms begin on January 1, 2021.

American Solutions For Business (ASB; asi/120075), a Top 40 distributor, recently hosted a virtual trade show, American PromoShow. It featured 62 supplier exhibitors and nearly 200 ASB sales associate and team member attendees.

Flywheel Brands (asi/212986) Inc. has joined Reciprocity Road, an alliance of ten distributors located across the U.S and Canada comprising approximately $230 million in promotional products spending. “With the addition of Flywheel Brands, we look forward to their sharing innovation and creativity with our partners. Over the years, they have evolved into a full-service agency-style firm,” said Perry Wehrle, executive director of Reciprocity Road.

Proforma Progressive Marketing (asi/300094) has named Ryan Meulemans its new vice president of sales and marketing. Based in Chattanooga, TN, Meulemans will focus on expanding Proforma Progressive Marketing’s offerings outside of California. “We’re excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” said Brandon Kennedy, owner of Proforma Progressive Marketing. “The experience, relationships and client-first mentality he brings to Proforma Progressive Marketing will help enhance the level of customer service and expertise we offer through our business.”

PromoCentric has announced the appointment of Peter Healy as vice president of operations and sourcing. Healy brings more than two decades of experience as a product sourcing specialist, as well as deep operations expertise. In this role, Healy will be focused on optimizing PromoCentric’s global product sourcing.

Scott Anderson and Alina Rubinshteyn, both industry veterans, have launched LiV2, comprised of several divisions including industry education, networking and philanthropy. LiV2Learn is an educational program developed for promotional products sales associates, with four sales modules dealing with focus, connections, going virtual and building a foundation for success and consisting of monthly Zoom calls, a separate Facebook community, accountability groups and coaching tips to ensure success. Click on the link to learn more about LiV2Learn: LiV2.org. The LiV2FreeCommunity is a free Facebook group exclusively for distributor sales associates. After requesting to join, distributors will have access to tips, videos and other engaging content intended to create value in the new COVID world. Click here to join for free.

Storm Creek (asi/89879), a supplier of premium eco-made outdoor-inspired apparel headquartered in Eagan, MN, announced that its Everyday Comfort Face Masks feature slim elastic ear loops, which it says are gentler on the ears than most thicker options. Plus, they have adjustable cord stoppers to “fit any face shape.”

True Brands (asi/92293), a supplier based in Seattle, has hired Darron Losse as Strategic Accounts Manager. Losse brings more than 20 years of experience to the True team. He was most recently a vice president with supplier Handstands.

AIA Corporation (asi/109480) has welcomed Brandify Promos, Go Fish Promotions, Great Ideas!, Hoopla Marketing Merchandise, Metromarketing Services Inc., Salt Services (asi/317578) and Sense Inc. to its community of nearly 300 independent distributor owners and more than 3,000 supplier partners.

IMAGEN Brands, parent company of Crown (asi/47700) and Vitronic (asi/93990), has introduced three new ways end-buyers can reach their audience this holiday season: personalization, more imprint locations on drinkware and a drop-ship program.

Proforma’s (asi/300094) Owner Advisory Council recently held its annual planning meeting with Proforma’s top executive team members. Historically attended in-person, most council members chose to attend this year’s meeting via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every year, Proforma’s OAC comes together with Proforma executives to set the goals and initiatives that will drive the continued growth of the organization.

alphabroder (asi/34063) released its 2021 digitally enhanced catalog, loaded with exclusive video from the industry’s top brands.

Custom Logos (asi/173183) celebrated the 20th anniversaries of account executive Sean Abbs, business development leader Amber Buyson and partner Ryan Kaback by adding their star plaques to the company’s “Walk of Fame.”

Industry veterans Roni Wright, vice president of The Book Company (asi/41010), and Kippie Helzel, senior vice president of sales at CPS/Keystone (asi/43051), have released the latest edition of their “Remarkable People” video podcast, featuring Gerry Barker, president of Barker Specialty Company (asi/132690), and Memo Kahan, president of PromoShop (asi/300446). Check it out here.

The Incentive Engagement Solution Providers (IESP) has elected Donna Chrobak, VP of sales and marketing at Sales & Marketing Management, as president of the IESP Board for 2020-2021.

In Your Face Apparel (asi/62494) welcomes Summer Bennison as marketing manager.

Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877) has added three adjustable face coverings to the Valumask family, including a face shield and new youth sizes.

Navitor (asi/81500) will be hosting a webinar on September 9 at 10 a.m. CDT with Nichole Stella from AIM Smarter, Matt Bruno, executive vice president at PSDA and Darin Painter, editor-in-chief of Print Solutions Magazine. Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tqo_mEi8TUSYFyPYWfvISg

PromoKitchen, an all-volunteer support organization for the promotional products industry, will be using Facebook’s mentor platform to improve their own Mentorship Program for promo professionals. The tool will automate much of the pairing process and offers tips on goal setting, issue resolution and relationship-building. “This new system takes some of the pressure off of our volunteer committee and gives the power directly to the mentees to find a pairing that will help them be successful in their careers,” says Russell Bird, a “chef” at PromoKitchen and owner of The Promo Addict (asi/302225) in Sherwood Park, AB. “That way we as a committee can focus on finding great mentors to stock the pool and continue to grow the program.”

Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877) has added the Maverick Adjustable Face Mask to its product collection.

VisionUSA (asi/80060) has announced a collaboration with Rocketbook (asi/83078) to launch home HQ kits full of branded, tech-savvy promotional products.

Dan Pigott, president, and Brett Schaffer, COO, have announced the creation and launch of Soapbox Marketing Communication LLC, featuring an “exclusive, interactive, web-based platform designed to facilitate project-oriented, one-on-one communication between top-producing distributor salespeople and executives from compelling industry suppliers,” they said in a release. The format of this new PromoSoapbox.com platform allows for the development of more productive working relationships and deeper personal connections between suppliers and distributors. 

Deluxe Business Services (asi/178720) is moving its corporate headquarters from Shoreview, MN, to downtown Minneapolis. About 525 employees could move when the space is ready in the fall of 2021.