Ash City USA

After one very raucous editorial meeting (including some very spicy Indian food) we’ve decided to jump on the reality bandwagon and have the first-ever Extreme Office Make Over in the June edition of the magazine. While we won’t be rebuilding an entire house while a deserving family enjoys a Disney vacation, we will be doing our best to put together an office that will put make everyone else in the building jealous.
After only one day, the response to requests for participation has been amazing. I want to thank the folks over at Leed’s, Prime Line, Journalbooks, SnugZ, Senator, Dart, PictureFrames.net, the

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

Among the original 13 rules of golf are antiquated statements (and spellings) such as, “If your ball comes among watter, or any wattery filth, you are at liberty to take out your ball ...,” and “You are not to remove stones, bones or any break club, for the sake of playing your ball,” (What’s a break club?). While, of course, the original Scottish sounds foreign to the modern ear, the language alone illustrates how far the game has come in just a couple hundred years. Clubs and balls might be making warp-speed advances, but the innovations aren’t all technological. On the clothing side, fabrics

FOR A LONG time, outerwear has been somewhat on the outskirts of the promotional apparel landscape. Much more attention had been given to its business-ready, corporate casual counterparts. These days, however, promotional outerwear is charting its own course and marching to the beat of its own drum. With a rise in environmental awareness and a greater focus on fabrication, outerwear has redefined its role in promotional apparel, and thus distributor profits. “Fabrications are the big story in promotional outerwear,” noted Cathy Groves, vice president of marketing at Overland Park, Kansas-based Dri Duck Traders. “Bonded soft-shell fabrics, cotton canvas waterproof and fabrics with any type of

LOYALTY 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

Effective immediately, Chris Clark, Mike Rozier and Paul Kory have been promoted to the positions of vice president of sales for the U.S. branch of Ash City, Scarborough, Ontorio. “As one of North America’s leading suppliers of corporate and promotional apparel, Ash City is constantly evaluating opportunities to bring increased value to our clients,” said David Woods, managing director of Ash City Worldwide. Chris, Mike and Paul will be responsible and fully accountable for managing Ash City’s sales results in the United States, as well as managing and leading our sales agencies and representatives.” For more information, call (800) 761-6612 or visit www.ashcity.com.

Ash City, Scarborough, Ontario, recently announced the promotion of Chris Clark, Mike Rozier and Paul Kory to the position of vice president of sales for Ash City USA. “As one of North America’s leading suppliers of corporate and promotional apparel, Ash City is constantly evaluating opportunities to bring increased value to our clients,” said David Woods, managing director of Ash City Worldwide. “Chris, Mike and Paul will be responsible and fully accountable for managing Ash City’s sales results in the United States, and managing and leading our sales agencies and representatives.” For more information, call (800) 761-6612 or visit www.ashcity.com.

PEOPLE LOVE to get mail. But, they hate junk mail, and unsolicited faxes and e-mail— facts that keep direct marketers teetering between subtlety and straighforwardness. Direct marketers can avoid audience alienation, experts say, by focusing on the basics: targeting the right audience with the right message, and using strong copy and creative elements. The most important element is the mailing list, according to Matthew Staudt, president of Interactive Marketing Group, Allendale, N.J. “If there is any question about the validity of the list, all the other elements of what might be an otherwise successful campaign are suspect,” said Staudt. “List data becomes outdated on