Awards

St. Paul, Minnesota-based Crystal D, an industry supplier of corporate awards and plaques announced the company donated 24 awards for the 10th annual Cardiac Children’s Cup

With all the excitement surrounding the Inauguration, we just wanted to take a minute to remind everyone as of January 18, 2009, U.S. Postal Service domestic and international shipping rate increases will take effect.
From the USPS:
U.S. Postal Service to Change Shipping Prices in January
New Annual January Price Change Consistent with Industry Practices
WASHINGTON, DC —Pricing for shipping services will change on Sunday, Jan. 18, the Postal Service announced today following a vote by its Board of Governors.
“The move to annual January price changes for shipping services products is consistent with industry-wide practice, and provides a clear picture of

Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Artistic Toy announced it will donate tens of thousands of stuffed animal plush toys to community organizations over the next 30 days. This act of philanthropy was inspired by the need to promote the U.S. Government’s new standards on toy safety and restore public confidence in the international supply chain.
To learn more about this campaign, visit www.artistictoysmfg.com/globalgiving.html
HPPA Awards Lifetime Membership to DeGreeff
Dave DeGreeff, of Flagship Promotional Services, Houston, was presented the Houston Promotional Products Association’s (HPPA) most prestigious award, Honorary Life Member.  The award recognizes a member who has made significant contributions to HPPA. 
During his 25 years

President Jeff Stepp of In Stepp Marketing, Lawrenceville, Ga., has announced the promotion of Nancy Jolly to the newly created position of vice president of sales. In Stepp Marketing is a leading independent manufacturers’ representative and marketing firm for supplier companies to the promotional products industry. Stepp announced Jolly’s promotion to industry sources from the company’s home office in Lawrenceville, Georgia, stating, “Throughout her stellar 18-year career in the promotional products industry, Nancy has continuously advanced to positions of leadership and authority, earning Rep of the Year Awards from key supplier accounts on multiple occasions.” Stepp added, “In addition to her continuing to

Philadelphia-based Promo Marketing magazine, the source of product and marketing information for distributor sales professionals, announced the winners of the 2008 Supplier Excellence Awards in its July issue. The Excellence Awards are the industry’s objective standard for supplier achievement and honor winners in more than 30 categories, spanning the range of promotional products. This year Norwood and Leed’s were named winners in the most categories, each with a total of 7. The Top 50 Supplier list was also revealed, ranking the largest companies in the industry based on 2007 revenue. “The July issue and more specifically, the Excellence Awards, recognizes suppliers for

» Americans have discovered the fragility of life, that ominous fragility that the rest of the world either already experienced or is experiencing now with terrible intensity. « JOSÉ SARAMAGO

Our lives as Americans are changing. I remember vividly, as a child, visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum. I was enthralled with the “charmed” lives of the people in his artwork, the simplicity, the joy. His work captured the innocence and mores of post-WWII America.
But even as a child, I knew these pieces of work did not depict my America. Twenty-five years later, I can say with great certainty, there will be

THE PROMO MARKETING Excellence Awards are the premier platform for distributors to make their voices heard and to recognize the suppliers who make the industry what it is. In an arena of constant change and innovation, the following companies stand out in the minds of the readers as being the go-to sources for the most popular premiums. Distributors voted in 30 categories encompassing all of the biggest and best products and services offered by the promotions industry. Over several months, more than 50,000 votes were cast, and with topics ranging from caps to clocks, from luggage to lanyards, there was a product for every

The corporate markets division of Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc., based in Shelton, Conn., was presented with a sales award at the Premier Promotional Group (PPG) Awards Ceremony on May 3, 2008 in Sarasota, Fla. Award recipients were honored for their sales achievements and high-quality service. Jeff Thompson, vice president of sales for Victorinox Swiss Army’s corporate markets division, accepted the award. “Its always a great feeling for your organization to be honored by your peers and business partners,” said Thompson. “We’re proud to be recognized for our efforts and congratulate all of this year’s winners,” he continued. The Premier Promotional Group is a

President of Chicago-based R.S. Owens, Scott E. Siegel, MAS recognized several employees with special awards, inducting nine into R.S. Owens’ President’s Club earlier this month. The President’s Club Award is based on an individual’s behavior and contributions, honoring employees who exemplify teamwork, passion for quality, leadership, initiative, extraordinary customer service, innovation and creativity. The recipients not only receive a beautiful crystal award etched with the company logo, their name and achievement, they are also eligible to receive tickets to the 2009 Academy Awards. Recipients included: Austine Bridgeford, executive accounts representative Barbara LaMonte, custom awards specialist Sandra Thomas, custom awards specialist Ray David, art

While normally we don’t take time out to highlight non-industry-related achievements, we felt in this case a few words must be said. One of the promotional products industry’s very own will be representing the good, old, U.S. of A. this summer at the Olympic Games in Bejing. This professional’s professional will hang up the cell phone and holster the Blackberry as he travels abroad to become one of America’s only two-sport threats—competing in both table tennis and synchronized swimming. While some have questioned his choice of sports, we at Promo Marketing pledge to give him full support (and possibly a place on the cover