Distributor News

Woodinville, Washington-based Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, Inc. (BDA), the nation’s premier Merchandise Agency and recognized leader in sports and entertainment merchandise activation, announced it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Evigna, a Detroit-based merchandise distributor that counts numerous Fortune 100 companies as long-standing clients and works with many of the world’s most prominent automotive brands including Ford Motor Company, Honda Motor Sports, Land Rover and Jaguar.

BERLIN (AP) - Puma AG, the German athletic apparel maker, said Wednesday that its first quarter net profit surged some 82 percent even though overall sales dipped.

The maker of shoes, shirts, bags and other athletic products said it had a net profit of euro83.1 million ($110.4 million) in the first quarter compared to just euro5.6 million a year earlier.

Sandy Gillman, owner of Gillman Advertising Specialties, Altamonte Springs, Fla., has joined her distributorship with Newton, Iowa-based The Vernon Company. Gillman and her employees will continue to maintain the Gillman Advertising Specialties corporate identity, while representing The Vernon Company.

A number of my friends own their own businesses, and it is always interesting to me that, when we start talking about my job, they usually say the same thing: "Oh, email and social media marketing -- that is just for big companies. I don't have time for that stuff." Or, "No one can explain to me how it will help grow my business, so why would I spend my time tweeting?"

I always get a kick out of these types of responses. Sure, it takes time to do any kind of social or email marketing, but does that mean that it isn't worth it for smaller businesses? The short answer? No.

Video can be a very powerful tool for businesses of any size, but YouTube's free-to-use model, ease of use and mass market audience means it’s a great channel for small businesses. However, like any tool, in order to get the most of it, it needs to be used well.

We’ve pulled together ten top tips to help you get the most out of YouTube. Rather than video production hints or content tips (there are tons of other resources that can help you on that front) here are the dos and don’ts of using YouTube from a behind-the-scenes perspective.

Chicago-based Flowers Communications Group (FCG) today announced the appointment of Christina Crawford to vice president.

On April 20, 2010, Cheektowaga, New York-based supplier St. Regis Crystal announced the acquisition of Waxahachie, Texas-based supplier The Martin Company.

"This acquisition presents tremendous opportunities for both companies," said Richard Firkser, president and CEO of St. Regis Crystal. "The Martin Company, founded in 1988, has spent 22 successful years developing it's creative, innovative and technical skills. St Regis complements these skills with superior customer service, huge production capacity and the structural and financial backbone to really grow."

HALO/Lee Wayne announced the promotion of Dawn Olds as vice president of operations. Olds will be responsible for the company’s order processing, billing and accounts-receivable teams

After adding seven new owners in January, Neenah-Wisconsin-based Adventures In Advertising (AIA) continued executing its selective growth plan by adding eight new affiliates to its owner network in late February/early March. The new affiliates are:

Lewiston, Maine-based Geiger hosted a “green” open house in its Scottsdale, Ariz. office on March 17, 2010. The event drew nearly 200 clients and prospects. The showroom was filled with eco-friendly products.