SnugZ USA

In its 20th year, Irving, Texas-based Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Presidents’ Forum is taking on a new name and new partners.

It's often said hard times call for desperate measures, but maybe the phrase should be revamped for the 22nd Century and reborn with a much more positive outlook. 

You don't have to thank us.
Over the course of the last year, yes, we’ve done the work for you. We made the phone calls, tracked down the information and basically annoyed anyone in our collective path—all in the name of quality editorial coverage.

Members of the PPAI Leadership Advisory Committee released a message for its members urging participation in the industry by submitting a nomination form for the PPAI Board of Directors.

Salt Lake City-based SnugZ USA opened its doors to customers through the new video blog available at the company’s Web site. The new video blog is updated on a regular basis to give distributors and customers the chance to meet and get to know the SnugZ family.

San Diego-based PETCO announced will join the Pismo Beach, California-based Pay It Forward Foundation with its twist on the Pay It Forward inspirational bracelet, as it introduces the PAW It Forward bracelet in January 2009. The first wave of PAW it Forward bracelets will be sold for $1.00 each with proceeds going to the PETCO Foundation. The Foundation gives assistance to animal welfare groups across the country. Following the success of the first wave of PAW it Forward bracelets PETCO hopes to launch a nation-wide campaign later in 2009. The PAW It Forward campaign is intended to encourage pet adoption and pet rescue.

SnugZ USA CEO and president Brandon Mackay and vice president Charley Johnson announced they have acquired 100 percent ownership of the company. Based in Salt Lake City, SnugZ USA produces a promotional product line that includes lanyards, eyewear retainers, personal-care items, flashlights, candle sets, picnic items and electronics. Prior to the acquisition, Mackay and Johnson were minority owners in the company. Mackay and Johnson completed negotiations for the acquisition with two other unnamed SnugZ owners on Dec. 9. “By becoming the sole owners of SnugZ USA, Charley and I will be in a position to move the company forward faster and more efficiently.

Salt Lake City-based SnugZ USA announced on November 18 it will sponsor a worldwide telethon/webcast to help bring in funds for the production of more inspirational bracelets for the Pay It Forward Foundation. The live broadcast of the “Pay It Forward” webcast can be found on November 18 until midnight CST at http://www.tinyurl.com/PIFbracelets. To make a donation directly the Pay It Forward Foundation cause, visit www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=666147. For more information on the Pay It Forward Foundation, visit www.payitforwardfoundation.org Hub Penned Top Supplier By Kaeser & Blair Quincy, Massachusetts-based Hub Pen Co. announced Kaeser & Blair, a top 20 distributor

Salt Lake City-based SnugZ USA announced on November 18 it will sponsor a worldwide telethon/webcast to help bring in funds for the production of more inspirational bracelets for the Pay It Forward Foundation. The rubber bracelets with the message “Pay It Forward” where originally created independently of the foundation by Snugz vice president Charley Johnson as a way of encouraging acts of kindness. After having tremendous success with his personal effort, Johnson teamed up with the Pay It Forward Foundation, created by Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of the book Pay It Forward which inspired the 2000 movie Pay It Forward featuring Kevin Spacey, Helen

HOLIDAY CARDS AS a client gift might initially ring of predictability. But in an economy where everyone is looking to tighten belts and knot purse strings—not to mention one in which corporate culture has gone digital and receives less personalized mail overall—greeting cards might be the answer to keeping clients in end-users’ sights during an economically challenging holiday season. According to the Greeting Card Association (GCA), the greeting card industry rakes in over $7 billion a year, and 90 percent of U.S. households purchase cards for a variety of occasions. The GCA also reported nine in 10 people welcome the feeling of importance