Writing Instruments

Chase Thompson has left a 20-year career with the Atlanta-based United Parcel Service (UPS), to join Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Gold Bond Inc. in the sales division. The announcement was made by Mark Godsey, the company's president.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. Department of Commerce, for the month of March 2008, the median sale price of a U.S. home was down 13.3 percent from March 2007. For the same month, sales of new homes dropped to the lowest level since October 1991. Regionally, the Northeast was hardest hit with sales down almost 20 percent when compared to the same month the previous year. The news is not rosy, and while experts differ in their opinion on how bad the housing crisis will get, there is no denying the housing industry slowdown is having and will continue to have a ripple effect on

Senator Promotional Group USA, based in Greensboro, N.C., announced the appointment of two senior additions to its marketing and sales service teams. After a two-year absence, Carol Gauger returns to Senator’s subsidiary Dart in the role of vice president, marketing and will report to Dale Baur, vice president, sales and marketing for both the Senator and Dart brands. Gauger is a 15-year veteran of the promotional products industry and last served as senior manager, member relations for Promotional Products Advertising International in Irving, Texas. Prior to that, Gauger served at Dart Business Accessories as marketing director. “Carol brings a wealth of industry experience and

Fenton, Missouri-based Quickpoint announced it is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2008. The company was founded in St. Louis in 1928 as the Quickpoint Pencil Company, and was one of the first manufacturers of mechanical pencils in the United States. Quickpoint has been owned by the Goessling family since its inception and with president John Goessling, MAS currently at the helm is in its fourth generation of family leadership. While Quickpoint developed many patented products that have become core items in the promotional products industry, the company has also evolved into a multi-category product line supplier, featuring more than 350 items, including exclusive lines

After nearly a year in design and development, Greensboro, North Carolina-based Senator USA relaunched its Web site(www.senatorpen.com) comprised of new, interactive features to aid distributors. “We took time to research what is most important to site users,” said Jill Randolph, product marketing manager for Senator, “because we want to provide valuable and useful tools to our distributors, which they will feel safe sharing with their customers as well.” Any visitor can browse the online catalog to view client-safe details on Senator’s full line of offerings, but only distributors can log in to place an order. While the Web site makes product selection

Senator pen introduced two new pens featuring 95% recycled barrels—the Innovator Eco and Super Hit Eco. Both of these pens offer forgery-proof, non-toxic ballpen ink refills, free “Mix ‘N Match”, free set ups, and a one-color imprint. The Innovator is made in the United States and can come with a latex-free soft grip, a gel or jumbo refill, and can be 360 degree imprinted for no extra charge (including raised imprint technology for tactile logos). For more information to n Senator Pen, visit www.senatorpen.com.

Greensboro, North Carolina-based Senator Pen won the prestigious 2008 Suppliers Golden Achievement Award from Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), the promotional marketing industry’s largest organization. Senator won in the Most Beneficial Sales Kit category for their “Top Secret” promotional sales kit. The PPAI Suppliers Golden Achievement Awards are given each year to distinguished suppliers for craftsmanship, creativity and graphic arts. The Top Secret sales kit was the brainchild of Jill Randolph, product marketing manager for Senator, and was designed for the company’s top distributors. It features a sleek, mailable sample tin, simply marked on the outside with the Senator Logo and the words “TOP

Clearwater, Florida-based BIC Graphic USA announced an exclusive partnership with Hong Kong-based Asian Sourcing Link (ASL), a supply chain management team with more than 20 years experience in the promotional products business. This partnership is exclusive within the promotional products channel in both North America and Europe. ASL will become an integral part of BIC Graphic USA’s new product development and category development by maintaining BIC Graphic USA’s commitment to product safety and compliance with international safety standards. ASL’s founding directors are the former owners of Hong Kong-based Marlow International, previously one of the leading global promotional product suppliers. ASL has sourcing offices in

In August 2007, BIC Graphic USA of Clearwater, Fla, acquired Atchison Products, Inc., a supplier of promotional totes, bags, coolers and backpacks formerly based in Atchison, Kan. Now, they announce the successful integration of Atchison Products, now rebranded Atchison by BIC. Atchison by BIC customers can now contact BIC Graphic USA for all their promotional product needs. “We’re excited to make this announcement today, as it is very positive news for both BIC and Atchison customers. Our main goals during the integration process were simplicity and a smooth transition with continued, uninterrupted customer service and that is exactly what we feel we have achieved

WHEN IT COMES to the advancement of the species, mankind seems to have its finger on the fast- forward button. On a fairly regular basis, giant leaps are made in varying fields from technology to medicine. But for every move toward the next new-and-shiny improvement coming off the assembly line of progress, there is a quieter, and equally meaningful, reaction. No doubt, we like our cutting-edge toys, yet people still take comfort in and certainly continue to utilize items that are, supposedly, outmoded. Take car collectors. For every top-of-the-line Ferrari in the garage, there’s a recently rebuilt classic car waiting for its turn around the block.