A Message from our CPPA President......
Greetings from hot, muggy Maryland! Can you believe the summer is almost over? Seems like it just started and now we’re facing “back to school” and more “normal” routines. For us promo professionals, it is also time to close those deals for the coveted fourth quarter! Are you ready?
CPPA’s Fall Expo on September 7, at Laurel Park, will be THE event to help you succeed this holiday season. For our distributor members, you are welcome to invite your clients to attend with you. You should have received an email with the invitation. If not, please reach out to Tiffany (tiffany@cppa.biz) and she will send it to you. We’ve put together a great lineup of the best suppliers to WOW you and your customers. This is your opportunity to make a great impression on your best clients and plant some seeds for holiday orders. For our suppliers, thank YOU for always bringing your “A” game to our shows to make for a great experience for everyone. We appreciate YOU.
Looking forward, we are in full swing of planning a fall appreciation event as well as our first ever Peake Awards/Holiday Party combo event. The events committee has secured the Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel in Columbia, Maryland for the awards/holiday event. Please save the date of December 7, 2023 for this very special experience. More information will be forthcoming and we want everyone to participate! With that said, we are looking for anyone interested in planning the Peake Awards/Holiday Party along with the Events Committee, headed up by Tracey Therres. This is a great opportunity to volunteer for a short amount of time with a huge impact on our first ever Holiday Party with AWARDS! We know there’s a lot of creativity in this group and we are hoping you are willing to share! Remember, this is YOUR organization. This will be a night to remember and we hope that you will bring your team to share in the holiday spirit.
Finally, I would like to express appreciation to all who have attended our last few events, including the CPPA Night at the Orioles and the Axe Throwing event at Stumpy’s Hatchet House. A great time was had by all. We plan to do both events again next year and would encourage distributors to bring your team out or suppliers to invite your clients. It’s a great night out and we do all the work for you, you just show up and have a great time! If you have suggestions for other events you’d like to have, just let us know! I’m going to predict we’ll be seeing the “World Series Champions, ORIOLES” next year! Go Os!
I look forward to seeing each of you at our Fall Expo. Enjoy the rest of your summer-hope it includes toes in the sand!
My best to you!
Cheryl Hokanson
CPPA Board of Directors President
|
|
Volunteers and Donations Needed for the
2023 CPPA Cares Philanthropy Back to School Event
|
|
Please consider donating much needed back-to-school supplies to our 2023 Philanthropy focus group, Just Living Advocacy Please help these deserving children go to back to school with the basic supplies they need. You may donate from their Amazon wish list https://bit.ly/JLABack-to-SchoolSuppliesAMAZONWishList or scan the QR code. All donated supplies may be delivered/mailed to:
JustLiving Advocacy, Inc.
@ Nonprofit Collaborative
9770 Patuxent Woods Dr. #319
Columbia, MD 21046
If you would like to volunteer to be on site to help hand out the backpacks and school supplies on August 12th, please email or call Tiffany at tiffany@cppa.biz or 410.562.0609. You may volunteer for the entire event or even just a few hours.
THANK YOU for considering a donation to these precious children!
|
|
August 15, 2023 Tuesday Learning Lab: "Grow Your Business with Food Gifts; It's Not Just for Holidays Anymore"
Have you always wanted to delve into food gifting but didn’t know where to start. Well, it’s fun and easy and clients LOVE it! Food Promotions are not just for the Holidays anymore. They have so many applications and can help add to your business bottom line.
Learning Outcomes:
- Different type of food gifts that are available.
- What makes a successful gifting campaign?
- What are the most popular food gifts?
- How do you introduce food gifts to your clients?
|
|
August 30, 2023 Wild Wednesday Webinar: "Hit the TARGET with Your Marketing"
Most businesses spend a lot of time and energy promoting their business…but they are not sure what is working. In this presentation, Kirby Hasseman will explain how to create more effective marketing…and build a business that lasts.
Learning Outcomes:
- Why it's so important to identify your perfect customer.
- Why you need to build a list...and how to do it.
- How to begin to build a brand that people want to share.
- How to create content that resonates with you target market.
|
|
Mark your calendars and register to attend our upcoming Fall Promo EXPO!
CPPA is proud to bring you and your clients multiple opportunities to attend trade shows throughout our region. The Fall Promo EXPO is a great opportunity to connect with vendors and discuss projects. Also, CPPA Distributor members are encouraged to invite clients to attend as exclusive guests. Register to exhibit or attend today!
For event details and registration links, click here
|
|
Fred Durand and Chris Alfano return in strategic C-level roles for Vantage Apparel
Avenel, NJ – Vantage Apparel recently announced the return of Christopher Alfano, an 11-year industry veteran, to the organization as its new Chief Digital Officer (CDO). Alfano rejoins the Vantage team after two years with the top 40 distributor, AIA Corporation.
|
|
Over his impressive career, Alfano has distinguished himself as a driving force in the digital transformation and modernization of operational systems and infrastructure. In his initial nine years at Vantage, Chris served as Chief Technology Officer, responsible for modernizing their ERP system and spearheading the critical shift toward more effective and efficient digital processes.
Alfano said, "I'm incredibly excited to return to Vantage Apparel and contribute to the ongoing digital transformation. I aim to use my experience and expertise to enhance our e-commerce capabilities, deepen our partnerships, and support our distributors with more robust and seamless integrations. It's an exciting time for Vantage, and I'm thrilled to be part of it."
Alfano joins Fred Durand, Vantage’s Chief Operating Officer, who was brought back earlier in the year to head up all production, sourcing, IT, customer service and digital operations teams. Fred’s first run with Vantage included a nine-year tenure and put him at the forefront of several leadership roles including Director of Customer Service and VP of E-Commerce.
|
|
Over the last 15 years, Durand has held C-level positions outside of the promotional products industry, leading operations, and e-commerce for global consumer goods brands.
“The recent hires are in line with Vantage's commitment to bolstering its digital capacities in response to the evolving needs of the industry. Chris' experience and innovative leadership will now be channeled into enhancing Vantage's e-commerce platforms, streamlining distributor integrations, and cultivating strategic partnerships through their newly established Digital Sales Operations team," said Ira Neaman, President. “Fred has a strong technology background, experience running large scale manufacturing operations and a passion for fostering excellence throughout an organization. In his first 6 months, he implemented significant process enhancements to give our service and operations teams more visibility to real-time information, access to technology benefits, and ultimately an overall better order experience.”
|
|
ASI Announces alphabroder’s Teresa Fang Named 2023 Counselor International Person of the Year
Trevose, PA – The Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI), recently announced that Teresa Fang was named the 2023 Counselor® International Person of the Year.
Counselor Awards recipients were honored Wednesday night, July 26, at a ceremony at the McCormick Place convention center during ASI’s annual Chicago trade show. Profiles of the industry leaders, humanitarians and family businesses chosen for a Counselor Award are now live at asicentral.com/news.
ASI has honored Counselor Awards recipients annually since 1964. “The highly coveted Counselor Awards pay tribute to the extraordinary accomplishments of our industry’s most inspiring leaders,” said Timothy M. Andrews, ASI president and chief executive officer. “ASI is delighted to honor Teresa Fang’s hard work and applaud her considerable efforts.”
The Top 40 Distributors and Top 40 Suppliers were also revealed at the Counselor Awards. These are
the largest companies in the industry, based on 2022 North American promo revenue.
“No one can do this alone,” Fang says. “I’ve benefitted from having an incredible team and from having fantastic mentors, customers and vendors from whom I have learned. I’m so grateful for all the people who have helped me and taught me so much along the way.”
|
|
PCNA Named 2023 Counselor Top 40 Supplier
Pittsburgh, PA – The Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI), has honored PCNA as a 2023 Counselor® Top 40 Supplier. ASI’s exclusive ranking of the largest companies in the industry is based on 2022 North American promo revenue.
The Top 40 Suppliers and Top 40 Distributors were revealed Wednesday, July 26th, at the ASI Show® in Chicago during ASI’s annual Counselor Awards celebration of the promo industry’s top companies, leaders, humanitarians and family businesses. Profiles of the Top 40 companies are now live at asicentral.com/news.
“ASI is delighted to congratulate PCNA for making our prestigious list of the promo industry’s most successful companies,” said Timothy M. Andrews, ASI president and chief executive officer. “The Counselor Awards applaud our industry’s most extraordinary suppliers.”
“We are proud to be recognized by ASI as a leader in the promotional products industry,” said Holly Brown, PCNA Chief Revenue Officer. “We appreciate the opportunity to serve our distributors with innovative and sustainable product solutions as we partner together for growth.”
|
|
PPAI Announces 2024 Board Officers
PPAI has announced officers for the Association’s 2024 Board of Directors.
They are Andrew Spellman, CAS (left), vice president of corporate markets of Therabody; Denise Taschereau (center left), CEO and cofounder of Fairware; Chris Anderson (center right), CEO of HPG; and Kevin Walsh, CAS, president of Showdown Displays.
The incoming officers begin their one-year terms immediately following The PPAI Expo 2024, which will run January 15-18.
|
|
How to Harness the Power of Sustainability in Small Business to Drive Profits and Capital
Marek Niedzwiedz * Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor * CEO at aeXea Group
Embracing sustainability can improve profitability while attracting investment and funding for small businesses.
In today's business landscape, sustainability has become a crucial factor driving success. Beyond its environmental implications, integrating sustainable practices into small businesses can produce substantial benefits, including increased profitability and improved access to capital.
At the heart of sustainability lies the concept of utilizing resources optimally and reducing waste - an approach that benefits the environment and drives cost efficiency, ultimately leading to increased profitability. Let's delve deeper into this intriguing nexus of sustainability, cost reduction and resource efficiency.
The foundation of sustainability is built on the wise use of resources. This often involves optimizing the usage of resources such as energy, water and raw materials. For example, businesses that employ energy-efficient technologies are likely to experience a significant drop in their energy consumption. This can be achieved through methods as simple as switching to LED lighting or as complex as upgrading machinery to more energy-efficient models. Read More
|
|
2023 PPAI Product Responsibility Summit |
|
|
October 8 - 10, Alexandria, VA |
|
|
Be Proactive About Responsible Sourcing
Supply chains and sourcing regulations are constantly evolving based on geopolitical and human rights issues. In today's turbulent economy, keeping up with best practices can feel overwhelming or even impossible.
But at PPAI’s Product Responsibility Summit, you will learn to make responsible sourcing manageable and actionable, alongside peers who are eager to learn, discuss and reflect on current trends and regulations. On top of roundtable discussions and legislative updates, Summit will feature session topics such as:
- Hazards to consider before nearshoring
- UFLPA enforcement priorities
- Enforcing your code of conduct throughout your supply chain
- Environmental and social responsibility considerations and more
Get the updated information you need to keep your sourcing in compliance and to put your company in the best position to navigate change. Click here to learn more or complete your registration
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
