JANUARY 2024

CPPA Wishes You A Very Happy New Year!


As the New Year begins, we are filled with hope and new expectations for 2024.

CPPA is thankful for all the support we have received from each of you in 2023

and look forward to working alongside all of you this year.

As the new year begins, so do our membership renewals.

Memberships renew every year on January 1 and last for the entire calendar year.

You should have received an email with a membership renewal notification in December.

If you have not already done so, please click here to renew for 2024.

A Message from our CPPA President......


Happy New Year!


I’m sure you all are busy attending the first industry shows of the new year and getting used to writing 2024! The new year gives us all a clean slate and a chance to review and renew our goals. Your CPPA board is committed to bringing value to your membership, as always. We have a full schedule of events planned for you including our signature tradeshows (Winter and Fall) as well as networking opportunities and educational webinars. As always, we encourage each of you to join one of our committees or pass along your ideas to any board member. I’d also like to take an opportunity to welcome our newest board member, Jay Shaplin! We are so happy to have Jay on the board of directors.


To kick off the new year, we are once again partnering with our District 1 colleagues for our regional show week; January 29-February 1. CPPA's show date is February 1 and this year’s theme is football related, “Get in the Game.” You don’t want to miss this opportunity to meet with your local supplier reps and strengthen those relationships in addition to gaining valuable product knowledge. We will be raffling off a Keurig machine after our education session and 2 58” ROKU TVs during the show. Must be present to win! In addition, we have lots of football themed giveaways which were donated by several of our much-appreciated supplier members! We look forward to seeing you on the gridiron…er, the SHOW!


As a reminder, the PEAKE Awards ceremony has been moved to the end of the year at the holiday party instead of the night before the Winter Expo. This will allow us to have a pre-game tailgating event the evening before and enjoy a chance to reconnect before the show. We had our first Peake Awards/Holiday Party on December 7th and it was a huge success. We filled the room at the beautiful Lakehouse Hotel in Columbia where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and a fabulous awards presentation. I appreciate all the suppliers who donated awards, centerpieces and door prizes as your contributions elevated the event and contributed to its success! A big thank you also goes out to all who donated toys for Toys for Tots! You all have big hearts and it is much appreciated! A special shout out to our Events Committee who scored a touchdown with this special event! We’re looking forward to the next one already!


On behalf of our board, I look forward to seeing you at the Winter Expo on February 1.


Let’s GET IN THE GAME! 


Cheryl Hokanson

CPPA Board of Directors President

Presenting the 2024 CPPA Board of Directors...

January 31, 2024 Wild Wednesday Webinar: "2024 State of the Industry with ASI CEO Tim Andrews"

 

The 2024 State of the Industry will provide a comprehensive overview of the promo industry’s most pressing issues along with strategies for success and the latest sales, product, and market trends. Bring your questions for Tim!.

 

Learning Outcomes:

  • Breaking news impacting promo
  • Recent sales, product, and market trends
  • Predictions for 2024 and beyond


Read more and register

Join us for the Biggest and Best show in the region!


Are you ready for some promo? Kick off the selling season with CPPA

and your Supplier and Multi-line Rep allies who will be on hand

to share with you what's new and exciting for 2024.


Be sure to wear your favorite football team jersey and come check out

all the latest promos and snag some cool swag as you arm yourself

with new product knowledge and a winning strategy for 2024.

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

BWI Airport Marriott

1743 W Nursery Road

Linthicum Heights, MD 21090


Education Session: 9 - 10 am

Exhibits Open: 10 am - 1:30 pm


First 100 attendees will receive a clear Stadium Fanny Pack!


Door Prizes given away at 10 am (education attendees), 11 am and 12:30 pm!!

You might be the lucky winner of a Keurig during the education session;

or one of two 58" Smart Roku TV's that will be given away during the show!

Must be a CPPA member and present to win


Exhibitors: Register HERE

Distributors: Register HERE


For full event details, visit: www.cppa.biz/2024-Winter-Expo

CPPA News

Vantage

American Solutions for Business Welcomes Brad Cole as Director of New Sports Division 


Glenwood, MN – American Solutions for Business recently announced the addition of Brad Cole to the home office team as Director of Sports Sales. This is a newly created division within ASB to target sales in the Team Sports and Green Grass markets. Brad will be a resource for salespeople within the company to expand into these markets to navigate the nuances within the customer base and vendor network.

 

“I’m looking forward to working with some great people within ASB to build out the team and sports business,” expressed Cole. “The goal is to be number one in whatever we do, specifically sports!”

 

Cole brings a wealth of experience to the role, having spent the last 20 years working for Nike in the Golf division in a variety of roles across the country. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and minor in Business Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

 

“Brad has been an awesome addition to our team and company,” shared Dana Zezzo, VP of Vendor Relations, Marketing & Events. “Our goal is to consistently establish new resources so that our salespeople are never limited in what and how they choose to sell. I can’t wait to see how Brad and this division will positively impact ASB as a whole.”

SAGE Announces Major Update To PDX Capabilities

SAGE – the official technology partner of PPAI – has announced a new development in the capabilities of Promo Data eXchange (PDX), the formula behind PPAI’s mission to eliminate unnecessary phone calls and emails.

Collaboration between PPAI and SAGE in advancing PDX represents a significant development in PPAI's mission to improve business efficiencies in promo. The addition of real-time updates on inventory levels and order status through SAGE's system is a crucial step forward in reducing industry friction. Read More

CPPA Members - Are you interested in advocating for the promotional products industry at PPAI L.E.A.D. 2024, which will be held in Washington D.C. May 13-14?

This event will allow you to meet with members of Congress and their legislative staffs on Capitol Hill to discuss pending legislation and issues relevant to the promotional products industry.

Deadline for applications is January 12, 2024! Complete yours at: https://bit.ly/3NDiXr8

Vantage

Vantage Apparel unveils new Digital Integrations Team to revolutionize connectivity and automated order submissions



Avenel, NJ Vantage Apparel recently announced its new Digital Integrations Team with the launch of www.vantageapparel.io.

 

“Focused on revolutionizing the customer experience by introducing technology that empowers automated order submissions, the Digital Integrations Team is dedicated to making single-piece order processing more efficient and profitable for its distributor customers,” says Rob Watson, Chief Executive Officer of Vantage Apparel. “This integration not only accelerates the ordering process but also enhances accuracy, ensuring that customers receive precisely what they ordered, even faster.” 

 

Vantage continues to invest millions each year in state-of-the-art technology projects that integrate with a broader range of ordering platforms like PromoStandards, Order Desk, StoreAutomator, WooCommerce, Shopify and Magento – just to name a few. With continued investments, customers can now access up-to-the-minute information about product availability, allowing for informed decisions and preventing delays in order fulfillment. This dynamic functionality sets Vantage apart in the industry, providing users with a level of transparency and efficiency that is unparalleled. 

 

"We are thrilled to introduce this to our valued customers. This platform represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to providing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients," said Chief Digital Officer, Chris Alfano at Vantage Apparel. "Our strategic partnerships and advanced platform integrations enable us to deliver a streamlined and transparent ordering experience, ultimately empowering our customers to buy with confidence." 

 

Key Features Vantage’s new Digital Integrations Team: 

  • Dedicated eCommerce & Integration experts: Bringing you peace of mind with a guided onboarding experience to maximize the time to connect. 
  • Automated Order Submissions: Seamless integration with multiple ERP and webstore platforms to expedite and simplify the order process. 
  • Overhead Reduction & Cost Savings: Reduce the cost of order entry and numerous communication exchanges with real-time updates, improved accuracy, and ability to scale sales growth without additional headcount. 
  • Dedicated Apparel Merchandisers and Consultants: Collaborate with best-in-class apparel merchandisers to curate a collection of top-sellers specific to your program and quickly make seasonal updates to highlight relevant styles. 

 

Vantage’s current integration customers have experienced massive success connecting to their webstore platforms. Blue Sky Marketing’s Director of Sales, Nate Bettinger shared that their “sales team is happy with minimal paperwork, accounting likes the combined billing, our eCommerce team is satisfied with the process and most importantly, the client loves having a 1-piece option in their budget. It is a win all around.” 

Industry News

2024 PPAI Pyramid Awards

PPAI Media

66 Industry Companies Win 2024 PPAI Pyramid Awards

 

PPAI has named the winners of its 2024 PPAI Pyramid Awards, with 66 member companies taking home 94 awards. The annual awards honor creative excellence in the promotional products industry and recognize dependable suppliers, outstanding promotions, creative campaigns and exceptional craftsmanship by Association members.


First presented in 1958, the PPAI Pyramid Award represents the pinnacle of achievement and honors the long-standing, collaborative partnerships between the PPAI family of members that differentiate strategic promotional marketing from the buying and selling of products. The PPAI Pyramid Award has stood the test of time and continues to advance the awareness and prestige of the industry’s talented companies and individuals. The award recognizes promotional products businesses and helps shine the spotlight on the collaborative business model unique to the industry.



Read the Full Story Here

4 Smart Strategies for Safeguarding Your Business and Brand Reputation in a Crisis

Danielle Sabrina * Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor CEO of Society22 PR

 

Here are four effective methods to protect your business and brand reputation after facing public criticism.

 

Today's business landscape is almost entirely digital. While the opportunities brought about by the digital age are nearly limitless, this new era has also ushered in waves of new threats — and savvy business owners must be not only aware of those threats but ready to protect their businesses against them and the damage they can do.


Your brand's reputation is everything. Today's customer has a wealth of options at their fingertips and is more selective than ever. Simply stated, a good reputation attracts customers, and negative brand associations repel them. Creating a solid and strategic brand management plan is the first step in mitigating the potential harm that can come to your company via the internet, and this quick guide will help you get started. Read More

Nominations for the 2024 Women in Print and Promo Feature

Print & Promo Marketing

Nominations for the 2024 Women in Print and Promo Feature Are Now Open


In the print and promo world, there are more women than ever before running the show — creating dynamic marketing campaigns, generating sales dollars, running machinery and leading multimillion-dollar companies. More importantly, they’re guiding the new generation of women entering the workforce.


Print & Promo Marketing Magazine would like to recognize some of these women, and they are asking for your help in nominating standout members from the print and promo industry.


To submit your nomination for the 2024 Print & Promo Marketing Women in Print and Promo,

Click here