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HPPA Industry News

  • 30 Nov 2023 12:39 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Bensussen Deutsch & Associates has added Matt Ferrari as chief operating officer. He will oversee the distributor’s global operations, fulfillment centers, supplier partners and sales support.

    • Ferrari has more than 15 years of experience in supply chain management with global brands, including 10 years with VF Corporation – most recently as VP, global supply chain for The North Face brand. Prior to that he held operational roles with Johnson & Johnson and was with Timberland.

    “Matt is completely dialed into the best practices of managing a worldwide network. As we accelerate efforts to globalize our supply chain and grow our international footprint, Matt’s experience will be instrumental in expanding our client offerings,” says Jay Deutsch, CEO and co-founder of BDA.

    “I was drawn to BDA by the company’s culture of continuous innovation, the massive portfolio of iconic brands they are entrusted with and their forward-looking approach on behalf of their clients and team,” says Ferrari. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a variety of category leading brands; that experience has instilled in me the ability to maximize strategic partnerships and effectively manage a global supply chain. I look forward to leveraging that expertise to further position BDA for ongoing success.”

    Magellan Promotions Named 2023 Future 50 Winner

    Magellan Promotions (PPAI 288676, D6) has been recognized as one of BizTimes’ 2023 Future 50 winners. The award celebrates the fastest-growing companies in southeastern Wisconsin.

    • To qualify, companies must have been in business for at least three years, be privately owned and show significant revenue and employment growth.
    • Magellan, which also won the award in 2019, was honored along with other winning companies at the annual Future 50 Luncheon and was featured in an issue of BizTimes Milwaukee magazine.

    “We’re excited to recognize this year’s group of Future 50 winners. These companies are creating jobs and fueling the growth of our region,” says Dan Meyer, publisher and owner of BizTimes Media.

  • 30 Nov 2023 12:36 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    London, Utah-based Rustico has gone out of business.

    The supplier of premium handcrafted leather goods has announced on its website that it “must reluctantly close its doors and cease all operations at this time.”

    “Over the past few years, we’ve fought hard to try and make it through a large financial struggle and unfortunately haven’t succeeded. We’re truly heartbroken to share this news. We want to express our deepest gratitude to all of you who have loyally supported us over the past 22-plus years. Thank you for believing in Rustico,” the company said in a statement.

    The Industry’s Loss

    In October, Rustico reportedly stopped taking orders from distributors through the end of the holiday season.

    Since the company has made its decision, industry members have taken to social media to lament the closure. “So sad to hear this from Rustico…a great supplier with a fantastic product,” posted Walter Kurt, MAS, president of Houston-based Three K Consultants (PPAI 260216, D2).

    CEO Isaac Childs co-founded Rustico with friends following a backpacking trip through Europe in 1998.

    • According to the company website, Childs wanted more durable journals to write about his travels in.
    • The supplier also offered portfolios, belts, wallets, wristbands and travel tags.
    Rustico has urged distributors interested in its products to purchase them through online retailers listed on its website. “Get them quick because when they sell out, they're gone,” the company said.
  • 27 Nov 2023 12:16 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    PPAI technology partner SAGE has announced that 1,073 supplier and decorator companies have earned A+ and A rating awards for 2024 based on an aggregate of their distributor ratings collected through SAGE Total Access, the company’s product management and business management solution.

    This Year’s Honorees

    The SAGE rating system was developed to empower distributors to make well-informed decisions about the companies they work with.

    • This year, 883 companies received SAGE’s A+ rating, while another 190 earned an A rating.
    • These suppliers and decorators comprise a total of 45% of all active Advantage or Decorator Members in the SAGE database.
    • As part of the relationship between SAGE and PPAI, suppliers with SAGE A+ and A ratings are also considered for eligibility in the industry's annual renowned PPAI Supplier Star Awards competition.
    • Likewise, SAGE ratings comprise a portion of the scoring for PPAI 100, serving as the basis for the Industry Faith category for suppliers.

    "We are so excited to recognize and celebrate our supplier and decorator partners that continuously go above and beyond to provide exceptional service and raise the bar for the industry's standard of quality and integrity each year," says Dana Porter, MAS, SAGE's vice president of information services.

    To view the complete lists, click here:

    Earning The Awards

    Through SAGE Online and SAGE Web, distributors can view a supplier or decorator's real-time ratings and comments, as well as a comprehensive overview of their award information, including any additional industry accolades.

    • Distributors can also now utilize AI-powered, consolidated review summaries to gain these important insights at a glance.

    Ratings can be submitted through SAGE Total Access or via the "Rate Us" link provided by both suppliers and decorators.

    • Distributors score factors such as customer service, delivery and problem resolution, as well as leave a detailed comment.
    • They can only rate each company once to provide their unique perspective; however, they may update their ratings at any time, ensuring the most precise depiction of their experience.

    Award-winning supplier and decorator companies will have access to a variety of marketing collateral to promote their A+ or A-rated status, including logos for their catalogs, websites and email signatures.

    Written by: James Khattak

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • 16 Nov 2023 11:46 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    PPAI has named the finalists of the Association’s 2024 PPAI Pyramid Awards. The annual awards honor creative excellence in the promotional products industry and recognize dependable suppliers, outstanding promotions, creative campaigns and exceptional craftsmanship by PPAI members.

    This year, 66 companies have been named finalists

    First presented in 1958, the PPAI Pyramid Award represents the pinnacle of achievement and honors the long-standing, collaborative partnerships between the PPAI family of members that differentiate strategic promotional marketing from the buying and selling of products. The award recognizes promotional products businesses and helps shine the spotlight on the collaborative business model unique to the industry.

    Industry companies’ work is recognized in five categories, with most broken out into several subcategories. Learn more about the categories and look back at the 2023 Pyramid Award winners:

    • Client Programs showcase distributors’ effective use of promo in creating creating programs and campaigns for their customers and end-users.
    • Open to all PPAI members, the Marketing Programs categories recognize creative branding activities that deliver information about company identity, products or services to customers and prospects.
    • The Supplier Decorating Categories celebrate the craftsmanship, successful delivery and creative service of promotional products suppliers.
    • Technology Programs categories recognize industry members’ work in developing creative and effective websites and mobile applications.
    • The PPAI Supplier Star competition allows PPAI member distributors to vote for their top supplier companies.

    The PPAI Pyramid Award has stood the test of time and continues to advance the awareness and prestige of the industry’s talented companies and individuals. The 2024 winners include:

    A+ Wine Designs
    alphabroder
    Arid Zone
    Ariel Premium Supply
    Artistic Toys & Promotions
    Artwork Services USA / AWS
    AZX Sport
    BAG MAKERS
    BAMKO
    Bentcil Company
    Brand Blvd.
    Brand Fuel
    commonsku
    Concepts & Associates
    Corporate Specialties
    CounterPoint
    Doug Fregolle Promotions
    Dunstan Group
    EMT
    EPromos Promotional Products
    Eversole Run
    Eyevertising
    Fields Manufacturing
    Fullarton Group
    Gemline
    GMG WORKS
    Gold Bond
    Goldstar
    HALO
    Hillarys
    HPG
    IICON Creative Strategies
    Illinois Glove Company
    IMAGEN
    imprintID
    Indiana Metal Craft
    INM Marketing Group
    Jornik Manufacturing Corp.
    Koozie Group
    Nadel
    Opti Print and Fulfillment
    Orbus Visual Communications
    PCNA
    PowerStick.com
    Pro Towels
    PromoCorner
    Raining Rose Promos
    SanMar
    Showdown Displays
    Six Twenty Six, LLC
    Sonic Promos
    Spector & Co
    Starline USA
    Stellar Lanyards North America
    StoneyCreek
    Stouse
    Sweeter Cards
    The MRL Group
    Thumbprint
    Totally Bamboo
    Towel Specialties
    Vantage Apparel
    Visions
    Whitestone
    WOWLine
    YM Labs

    Written by: James Khattack

    Published with Permission by PPAI

  • 16 Nov 2023 11:44 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    What will be fashionable in the fall of 2025? Vicki Ostrom’s job is to have that answer today.

    A 12-year veteran of the promotional products industry, Ostrom is a “futurist” at SanMar (PPAI 110788, S16) – promo’s leading supplier in this year’s PPAI 100. Her role is to supplement the research and knowledge that the Issaquah, Washington-based firm’s merchandising, design and product creation teams obtain from vendor partners, customers, shopping and other sources.

    “You want to design something that will be in our line for at least five years, but of course, fashion does change,” Ostrom says. “How do you design a universal style that’s not only trendy for now and five years from now, but also super durable and for potentially a range of ages and ethnicities? You have to really think it through and put a lot of factors into play to decide what that garment should look like.”

    Passion For Fashion

    The Montana native has always been drawn to making something from scratch.

    The daughter of a wheat farmer, Ostrom initially wanted to be a chef. Mixing colorful ingredients sparked her creativity, fueling her interest in the arts. Although she went to college for acting, costume design truly resonated with her.

    “You have to learn about every character, understanding the minutia of who’s around them, what’s the setting they live in and how does that affect what they wear,” Ostrom says.  

    • Graduating from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in technical theatre, she spent seven years as a costume designer and seamstress on Broadway in New York City.
    Envious of friends who had a stable career with healthcare coverage and a 401(k) plan, she relocated with the intention of earning a master’s in costume design at the University of Washington. However, Seattle Central College offered a similar education for a shorter amount of time and a lot less money, so she earned an associate of applied science in apparel design and went on to work for high-profile brands, like Eddie Bauer, Tommy Bahama and JCPenney.
    • So, she produced editorial pages with images of product designs and matched them with trends happening in the world.
    • The sales team quickly took notice and wanted to show their customers.
    • The content was so valuable that she transitioned into her current full-time role as trends editor at SanMar.
    While apparel trends are certainly related to the latest wearable fashions, most folks don’t consider that what we choose to wear comes from larger influences from the world around us, according to Shelley Renning, vice president of merchandising at SanMar.
    Indeed, Ostrom aims to bring macro-level observations of generational shifts, economic factors, health and wellness movements, climate change, how other industries are moving and anything else existential like a pandemic or war that could create opportunities – either for new products or for enhancing products, categories and brands that SanMar currently designs for.
    • The biggest trend Ostrom is seeing right now is companies selling their products through the lens of education.
    “People are really into learning right now – they want to understand things,” she says. “So, companies are teaching their customer something, and the customer appreciates that they’ve just learned something valuable.”


    “I was mainly designing apparel for men,” Ostrom says. “You have to be extremely good with your research because men don’t mess around when it comes to clothing. If they love it, they’ll buy a lot of it. If they don’t, you’ll never see them again.”

    Entering The Promo World

    In 2011, Ostrom joined SanMar as a senior designer.

    “We were just starting to really do a deep dive focus into women’s clothing,” she says. “Up to that point, if you had a woman on your team, probably a small men’s shirt would be fine. But then Instagram and Pinterest were coming into play, so women everywhere were starting to see and be able to buy clothing from outside their region with ease. We readdressed all the fits we had in women’s product and examined new styles.”

    Comparing SanMar’s women’s apparel to that of popular retail brands, Ostrom was impressed at the quality, and thought others would be, too.


    “One of Vicki’s contributions to SanMar’s team of designers and merchandisers is to share those macro trends in a way that can be translated into functional and trend-right products that resonate with end users,” Renning says.


    “I love the social anthropology of trend reporting,” Ostrom says. “It’s all about researching your customer. As a designer, it’s already a full-time job keeping track of your production while hoping you can keep up with the trends. My role is to be that extra helping hand and present what’s happening in the world that we should be aware of.”

    Connecting The Dots

    Predicting the next big thing in fashion requires endless research. Working from home, Ostrom’s daily routine includes reading both the digital and print version of The New York Times, poring through global trend resources that SanMar subscribes to, conversing with colleagues about what they’re reading, seeing or hearing, watching The Today Show and even studying the commercials.

    “As a marketer, it’s a difficult job to get someone’s attention and present something that would be informative and captivating enough to have them actually watch a commercial,” Ostrom says. “I see what colors and images they’re using and what stories they’re choosing to tell.

    “Over the years, I’ve been able to see different aspects of things I read from different sources and make more connections to understand what’s a true trend we’re pursuing as a society rather than a really strong advertorial that some company is putting out.” 


    SanMar values Ostrom’s creative way of communicating relevant trends to its customers and understands that it’s a differentiator in the promo industry. “SanMar’s goal is to share the ‘why’ behind the products we create,” Renning says. “By making trend education approachable, Vicki helps ensure our customers are seen as the experts in finding solutions to any customer’s wearable needs.”

    Ostrom attributes her success to her innate curiosity and her penchant for always paying attention to the world around her.

    “Because everybody is so busy in their lives maybe they’re not sitting down and making those connections the way I do for my job,” she says. “What makes me successful is the volume of places I look: museums, TV shows, movies, economy stories, etc. Seeing a volume of different types of sources of information and then making your own conclusions about where you’re seeing these threads come together gives you confirmation that you’re following the right path.”

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • 16 Nov 2023 11:42 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Vantage Apparel (PPAI 113235, S10) – ranked the No. 17 supplier in this year’s PPAI 100 – has announced that Rob Watson has returned to the Avenel, New Jersey-based company as CEO.

    Ira Neaman, MAS, founder and president/CEO of Vantage Apparel, is transitioning to the role of president/executive chairman to focus on the company’s vision, strategy and continued business development.

    “Rob's return to Vantage Apparel as CEO is an exciting development for our company,” Neaman says. “Rob’s extensive industry experience, combined with his prior contributions to our organization, positions him to lead Vantage to new heights. We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to provide our customers with the highest-quality promotional apparel and new, innovative services.”

    Global Expansion

    With more than 20 years of experience in the promotional products industry, Watson has held leadership roles at several firms, most recently serving as vice president at Tempe, Arizona-based Zing Manufacturing (PPAI 517185, S7). 

    “Vantage has a long-standing reputation for quality, innovation and exceptional decoration services, and I'm committed to building on that legacy,” Watson says. “We have an exciting journey ahead, and I look forward to collaborating with our team and our distributor partners to drive our company forward in the industry.”

    Under Watson’s direction, Vantage's global footprint – through its 2021 acquisition of Lynka, a full-service European corporate apparel supplier – will be a major strategic focus for the company.

    • John Lynch will continue as president of Lynka and “help strengthen the vision of continued international programming for the network of companies.”


    Watson’s Background

    "Rob brings the unique skill sets of both technological prowess and a deep knowledge of our industry, as well as superb leadership and communication skills," Neaman says.

    In his previous role at Vantage as chief experience officer, Watson played a pivotal role in enhancing customer experience, streamlining operations and driving business development initiatives. 

    He has also served as:

    Written by: John Corrigan

    Published with Permission from PPAI

  • 8 Nov 2023 2:24 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    OrderMyGear has acquired DistributorCentral, the Kansas-based technology provider for suppliers and distributors in the promotional products industry.

    • Dallas-based OrderMyGear, an online platform for selling custom-branded merchandise, announced the acquisition today.
    • DistributorCentral will continue to exist and operate under its current name while owned by OMG.

    OMG Continues To Grow

    The news comes almost exactly one year after the announcement that OMG had acquired BrightStores, another provider of online stores for promotional products.

    • Combining the resources and abilities of Distributor Central with OMG creates a single technology partner to sell, manage and order promo merchandise across sales channels.

    The company anticipates the deal to bring several benefits to the promotional product distributors, apparel decorators and team dealers it works with. These include:

    • One platform to discover products, generate sales and manage orders across sales channels.
    • Access to additional technology solutions, including product search, eCommerce websites and order management.
    • Access to high-quality, order-ready product data that eliminates costly order errors and reduces order turnaround times.

    Additionally, OMG expects supplier benefits to include:

    • One platform to manage and distribute high-quality product data to the entire industry.
    • Ability to promote and advertise products to promotional product distributors, apparel decorators and team dealers across all channels, including product search, online stores and eCommerce websites.
    • Technology to transform raw, unstructured product data to the industry standard PromoStandards without any technical expertise or resources.

    As a result of the acquisition, DistributorCentral, which was founded in 1999, is now independent of promotional product supplier TradeNet, allowing all suppliers to utilize the company’s full suite of business management technology.

    PPAI President and CEO Dale Denham notes the important role that companies like OMG and DistributorCentral play in the industry and how a move like this can play a part in shaping the future.

    "The growth of OMG since committing to the promotional products industry has been impressive," Denham says. "When business service providers make a commitment to solving industry-specific challenges, they win and the industry wins. This acquisition should create more opportunities for success. I’m particularly hopeful about the commitment from OMG to support PDX inventory and order status with this acquisition."

    • PDX – Promo Data Exchange – an open standards formula supported by PPAI is designed to make it easy for suppliers to share order status and inventory with distributors with a single integration which will eliminate thousands of hours of wasted effort, friction and unnecessary phone calls.

    Hear It From OMG

    Leonid Rozkin, CEO of OMG, says that product data management is a core element of what OMG is now able to provide suppliers because of combining with Distributor Central.

    “Product data is at the core of OMG online stores,” Rozkin says. “It’s also a difficult element of the tech stack to get right. Suppliers often don’t have the resources to manage their product data across countless channels or to become PromoStandards compliant, so their data is available in the industry standard format.

    “With DistributorCentral, OMG will be able to provide the best technology paired with the highest quality product data.” 

    Much like the BrightStores acquisition in 2022, Rozkin says that the move was motivated by the possibility of combining two strengths and addressing a need by looking toward a reliable name in the industry.

    “DistributorCentral’s deep expertise in supplier product data complements our strength in online stores, allowing us to address a critical pain point for stakeholders on both sides of the equation: accurate, up-to-date product data,” Rozkin says. “DistributorCentral provides high-quality product data to numerous players in the industry, including OMG and other service providers, which is the top request we hear from clients who partner with OMG for online stores. Together, we are uniquely positioned to eliminate the friction of selling branded merchandise for all parties while driving innovation for the entire industry.”

  • 8 Nov 2023 8:47 AM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Dawn Olds, MAS, immediate past chair of the PPAI Board of Directors and senior vice president of industry relations and DEI at HALO – ranked the No. 2 distributor in this year’s PPAI 100 – is retiring. 

    A 35-year veteran of the promotional products industry, Olds has spent her entire career at the Sterling, Illinois-based distributor. She’s been in management for more than two decades, overseeing accounting, IT and general operations functions. 

    “It has been an honor to contribute to our company’s success and to witness the incredible growth and innovation that has taken place over the years”, Olds says. “I’m grateful for the friendships, the challenges and the countless opportunities to make a difference.”

    Olds has also volunteered in the promo industry for several years and joined the PPAI Board of Directors at the beginning of 2020. Her time in the Association’s leadership tracked along considerable changes and challenges in the organization and industry at large, and she was instrumental in helping PPAI navigate the pandemic, leadership changes and revitalizing The PPAI Expo.

    Olds plans on staying with HALO through 2023 and will end her tenure at The PPAI Expo 2024 in Las Vegas.
  • 3 Nov 2023 7:50 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    SnugZ USA has made a strategic addition to its sales team with the hiring of industry veteran Kevin Mullaney as an additional national sales manager effective November 1. This position will add to SnugZ’s strong and dedicated sales team providing sustained success and innovation moving forward.

    • Mullaney has been in sales for more than 17 years. For the past 12 years he has been vice president for distributor Brandito, LLC, in Richmond, Virginia. He also served as a member of the VAPPA Board of Directors from 2019-2022.
    • In 2016, Mullaney was recognized as a PPB Rising Star, in 2018 he was named an ASI Sales Rep of the Year Finalist, and in 2019, 2020 and 2021 he was honored as Distributor Sales Rep of the Year by Virginia Promotional Products Association (VAPPA). His “work hard, play hard” motto also earned him the Randy Shippam Award at the 2023 Facilis Group TASA awards.
  • 20 Oct 2023 4:03 PM | Cassondra Franze (Administrator)

    Goldstar – ranked the No. 16 supplier in this year’s PPAI 100 – has hired Heather Smartt as its new global director of merchandising.

    In her new role, Smartt’s top objectives include advancing the San Diego-based company's commitment to manufacturing alternatives, expanding product categories and enhancing global product design. Currently based in Lisbon, Portugal, Smartt’s talent for bridging the North American and European markets is a key driver in Goldstar's global product expansion, the company says.

    • Under her leadership, the company will unveil a four-piece Coastal Threads bag collection designed in Europe, crafted with REPREVE Our Ocean Recycled Plastic.
    Smartt’s Background

    A 17-year veteran of the promotional products industry, Smartt rose through the ranks of Polyconcept, eventually becoming director of category management at PCNA (PPAI 113079, S15) – the No. 7 supplier in the PPAI 100. She most recently served as global director of product development at National Pen (PPAI 107176, D12).

    “I’m deeply honored to lead Goldstar's global product development efforts,” Smartt says. “My goal is to leverage my experience in both North America and Europe to create products that meet the needs of our diverse customer base and align with our commitment to sustainability. Together, with our talented team, we’ll help expand how the world perceives promotional products.”

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