Prime Line

Key leaders in the promotional products industry today announced the formation of the Quality Certification Alliance, LLC (QCA), an independent, nongovernmental organization dedicated to elevating the standard in providing consistently safe, high quality, socially compliant and environmentally conscientious merchandise to Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. Executives from the organization’s founding companies officially launched QCA today at the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Expo in Las Vegas. The QCA certification process assures merchandise manufactured, imprinted and imported by member companies conforms to established domestic and international product laws, regulations and standards. QCA has garnered wide support from numerous suppliers and distributors, including Avaline; Barton

Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line announced, in keeping with its Eco-Responsible initiative, the company’s 2009 annual catalog has been printed on paper awarded the European Eco-Label, the EU Flower—denoting the paper was produced according to the highest environmental standards, and all ink used in printing is soy-based. The strict criterion of the European Eco-Label controls the entire production process including the use of natural resources, chemicals, energy and emissions. The company also announced it has added many new Eco-Responsible products to its line for 2009. “Because of the positive and successful response to our Eco-Responsible initiative, we plan to continue enhancing our educational Eco-Responsible

To wrap up the year, I wanted to take a minute to share the promotional products that the team at Promo Marketing found to be the most desirable. With each of us having reviewed hundreds of products for the magazine and seen hundreds more at trade shows, I thought the choice might be difficult. But, to my surprise, within five seconds of the asking, each of my co-workers had an answer they were sure of. Their choices (and mine) are as follows:
Michael Cornnell: Symphony Handmade Paper—Recipe Bookmarks
“What’s not to like about handmade paper?”
Kyle Richardson: Minya International—The Butt Station
“I don’t

Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line announced, because of the positive and successful response to their Eco-Responsible initiative, the company plans to continue enhancing this educational tool about the environmentally friendly qualities in its items. Prime Line also provides additional resources and information for that allows distributors to improve their own environmentally friendly practices. The company has added over a dozen new Eco-Responsible products to their line for 2009, which are also featured in their new 2009 annual catalog. Part of Prime Line’s Eco-Responsible program includes an “Eco-Promise” section, including the promise by Prime Line to continually improve and communicate its Eco-Responsible practices throughout the year.

Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line, in conjunction with Bedford, New Hampshire-based Henderson Associates, announced Prime Line’s String-A-Sling backpacks reached the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. “We are always very excited to see the great distances our best-selling String-A-Sling backpacks reach,” said Jeff Lederer, executive vice president. “They were recently provided for the Glory Outreach Assembly Children’s Conference in Kenya,” he added.
For more information on Prime Line, visit www.primeline.com
Chocolate Inn Gets Gold From Geiger
Chocolate Inn, a chocolate manufacturer in the promotional products industry, was again designated a Gold Star Production Partner by Geiger. This designation is for excellence in quality,

SanMar Debuts the 2008 District Threads Collection Catalog
Seattle-based SanMar Corporation, a leading supplier of imprintable apparel and accessories, is releasing its 2008 District Threads catalog. The 36-page catalog showcases the entire District Threads line of essential fashion apparel, while offering a preview of forthcoming fall styles.
“The District Threads brand finds its appeal with teens and young adults who are looking for clothes that reflect their comfortable, relaxed approach to life,” explains Jeremy Lott, SanMar vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s all about a smart balance between fashion and function-like our District Threads organic styles, which combine environmental responsibility with casual

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

T’S NOT THAT easy being green. When Icelandic musician, Bragi Thor Valsson penned this lyric decades ago—which later became famous in the 1970’s by everybody’s favorite frog, Kermit—he couldn’t have known how prophetic the words would one day prove to be. Aside from providing a lovable children’s puppet with a cathartic means by which to come to terms with his self image, the lyric has, for this writer, come to epitomize the largely unspoken sentiment felt by much of the industry—What exactly does it mean to “go green?” For many suppliers, such as Fenton, Missouri-based QuickPoint, going green has to do with the incorporation,

Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line proudly announced it has been selected as a winner of the 2008 PPAI Web Award for the category of Functionality/Usability. The award recognized PPAI distributor and supplier members in five categories for creative and effective promotional products Web sites. “We are very pleased to be recognized for the improvements we’ve made on our Web site recently,” said Jeff Lederer, executive vice president. “Some new features we’ve added include live inventory check, instant order-status look up and shipment tracking, as well as fast-and-easy product searches,” he added. Prime Line will be honored at The PPAI Expo 2008 awards presentation

Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Prime Line proudly announced that Kathy Schneider, southwest regional sales manager, has been named Supplier Representative of the Year by the Houston-based Houston Promotional Products Association. “This award is given out annually to a salesperson who has gone above and beyond in servicing distributors in the Houston area. Kathy’s energetic personality and hard work made her the overwhelming choice. We are proud to have her on our team,” says Paula Shulman, vice president of sales at Prime Line. Schneider has been in the promotional products industry for nearly 20 years. In addition, she is on the board of Promotional Products Association Southwest