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

Come Sail Away with CPPA and your peers while enjoying an exceptional networking experience!

Over the course of this 2-hour sunset sail aboard a beautiful, wooden 74-foot schooner, you will get the opportunity to network with other members while taking in the breathtaking views of the Chesapeake Bay. All participants will also receive a goody bag with items to enjoy on the sail and take home.

October 18, 2024 - Schooner Woodwind 80 Compromise St, Annapolis, MD 21401

• $100/pp for CPPA members and their guest (limit 2 tickets) which includes 1 drink ticket, light fare, goody bag and sunset sail
• 2:30 - 3:45 pm - Meet to check in at Pusser's Caribbean Grille where you will receive your drink ticket, goody bag and enjoy light appetizers
• 4:00 - 6:00 pm - Sunset Sail on the Schooner Woodwind - Soft drinks and bottled water will be provided during the sail; Cash bar will also be available for additional purchases.

Limited spots are available so reserve yours today!

Read more and register

Vantage Apparel Welcomes Diana Fernandez as eCommerce Revenue Manager



Avenel, NJ – Vantage Apparel, a supplier of custom-branded apparel renowned for its award-winning decoration and integration capabilities, is thrilled to announce the return of Diana Fernandez to their dynamic team, this time in the role of eCommerce Revenue Manager. Diana's exceptional skills and proven track record make her the perfect fit for this pivotal position.

Diana is no stranger to the Vantage family. Previously, she served as a talented Marketing Manager within Vantage’s esteemed marketing team, where her innovative strategies and dedication left an indelible mark. Her return brings with it a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective that will undoubtedly drive success in her new role.

As eCommerce Revenue Manager, Diana will be at the forefront of Vantage’s digital transformation, spearheading initiatives to enhance customer experience, optimize sales channels, and maximize revenue growth. Her keen understanding of market trends and consumer behavior, coupled with her strategic mindset, positions her as a valuable asset in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce.

"We are thrilled to welcome Diana back to Vantage Apparel in this exciting new capacity," said Rob Watson, CEO at Vantage Apparel. "Her expertise and passion for excellence align perfectly with our commitment to delivering exceptional products and services to our valued customers. With Diana leading our eCommerce efforts, we are poised for even greater success in the digital realm."



Diana's return underscores Vantage Apparel's dedication to fostering talent and empowering individuals to thrive in their careers. "As we embark on this exciting journey, my aim is to marry our traditional strengths with cutting-edge digital tactics, ensuring that every interaction with our brand is not just seamless but also exhilarating,” says Fernandez.

Her transition from Marketing Manager to eCommerce Revenue Manager exemplifies Vantage’s opportunities for growth and advancement within the organization.

Hit Promotional Products Adds Amy Rabideau, MAS, To Its Leadership Team



St. Petersburg, FL – Amy Rabideau, MAS, has joined Hit Promotional Products as the company's new vice president of product.

Rabideau is a 26-year industry veteran and joins Hit from Facilisgroup, where she served as its senior vice president of strategy and innovation. She is also a long-time promo industry volunteer, including a term as the RAC Delegate to the PPAI Board of Directors.

“Amy is a huge addition to our industry-leading technology team,” says Jon Norris, chief strategy officer at Hit. “Her experience as a supplier, distributor and software provider provides a strategic perspective that will help Hit deliver technology solutions for our customers. Hit hiring a vice president of product ensures that we have a well-managed lifecycle and go to market for all our technology solutions. If the industry is in the middle of a technology arms race, Hit just added a new aircraft carrier.”

As vice president of product, Rabideau’s focus will be on technology and how the supplier goes to market. Her new role is part of Hit’s initiative to build its technical proficiency and modernize its infrastructure, according to Raj Mukherjee, chief information officer at Hit.

“I can’t think of anyone else in the industry who can help me lead this initiative other than Amy,” Mukherjee says. “Amy comes with decades of promotional products experience in leading IT teams and managing the buildout of complex e-commerce products. Her experience will add a new dimension to how Hit does business, especially in the web store/e-commerce space. I’m looking forward to the leadership skills that Amy will bring to the team and am excited for Hit’s future in tech with her addition.”

SanMar Testifies Before The U.S. Senate In Support Of AGOA Program



Issaquah, WA – SanMar recently lent its support on Capitol Hill for AGOA, a U.S. trade program that provides duty-free policy to goods of designated African countries. Currently, AGOA is set to expire in 2025 while a proposed bill would extend it by 16 years with an expiration date of 2041.

Melissa Nelson, general counsel and corporate secretary for SanMar recently testified in front of the United States Senate Committee on Finance in support of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). In her testimony, Nelson discussed the way AGOA plays a critical role in driving economic growth in the apparel industry as well as the ways it creates jobs and decreases poverty in Africa.



Facts and perspectives on the subject that Nelson presented to the Senate include:

• SanMar first began sourcing apparel from sub-Saharan Africa in 2009.
• Through apparel production in five AGOA countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and Ghana), SanMar provides jobs to more than 9,000 Africans.
• Of the workers manufacturing products for SanMar in these countries, more than 70% of them are women.
• In order to move production away from China, sub-Saharan Africa provides a viable sourcing base, but this is dependent on the renewal of the long-term renewal of AGOA.

SanMar has a continued presence in Africa through its factory partnerships and programs. Starting in 2023, it partnered with distributor partners to create internships in Tanzania.

AGOA is a U.S. trade program that provides duty-free policy to goods of designated African countries.



“Many potential investments in AGOA countries are on hold because the program is close to expiration,” Nelson told the Senate. “It’s a common discussion among apparel manufacturers who source from AGOA countries. There is so much potential in vertical integration, but no one will invest when the benefits of AGOA could expire before a return on investment.”

Skylight Creative Ideas has been selected as a 2024 Family-Owned Business Award Honoree by the Baltimore Business Journal



Baltimore, MD – The Baltimore Business Journal has selected 20 companies throughout Greater Baltimore as its 2024 Family-Owned Business Award honorees.

The annual award recognizes the longevity, success and growth of companies owned by a family — some for multiple generations. The eclectic group of companies this year includes some well-known names such as uber-developer The Cordish Companies., Samuelson's Diamonds & Estate Buyers and Basignani Winery. Other names you may know include PJ Foods, the owner of 10 local Burger Kings, and Dimitri Olive Oil, which imports cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil from family farms in southern Greece.

Such businesses, no matter the size, are a major part of the local and global economy. The latest survey from McKinsey shows that family-owned businesses account for more than 70% of global gross domestic product and about 60% of global employment.

But the owners of these family-owned businesses are much too busy to dwell on their importance. Instead, they're a humble group who often say they just want to keep working hard to preserve the business for the community and the next generation.

This year's Family-Owned Business Award honorees are:

• Basignani Winery
• Biomedical Waste Services Inc.
• Cordish Cos.
• Crosby Marketing Communications
• Dimitri Olive Oil 
• Flowers & Fancies
• Gray & Son
• Harbor Designs and Manufacturing
• Kennedy Personnel Services
• King King & Associates PA
• Klein's Family Markets
• Lacy Foundries LLC
• My Cleaning Service
• Perry Moving & Storage
• PJ Foods LLC
• Saffer Plumbing, Heating & Electrical
• Samuelson's Diamonds & Estate Buyers
• Skylight Creative Ideas Inc.
• Strum Contracting Co. Inc.
• Terminal Corp.

The above Award Winners will be celebrated on Sept. 26 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 pm at Citron Baltimore at 2605 Quarry Lake Drive. Congratulations Skylight Creative Ideas!

Janet McMaster, MAS, and Joy Smith, MAS, are PPAI's 2024 Women of Achievement Award Recipients

For 15 years, PPAI has celebrated women who have spurred the promotional products industry forward. This year’s recipients of the PPAI Woman of Achievement Award are Janet McMaster, MAS, and Joy Smith, MAS.

Their outstanding leadership, dedication and talent have impressed peers, empowered other women and energized entire communities. The industry veterans have made an undeniable impact, and their contributions are deserving of praise.

As is tradition, McMaster and Smith were recognized during a special ceremony at the 2024 PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference, which recently took place at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville earlier this summer.

Learn more about McMaster and Smith and the impressive accomplishments that lead to this year’s 2024 PPAI Woman of Achievement awards by clicking here

Boosting Creativity with a Childlike Imagination Ashley Bellow * Content Marketing Coordinator * SAGE

We all get it. The creative slump is exhausting and well, unproductive. Creating business plans and projects can diminish our spirits and put us into a creative fun. Read on to find out how to get out of this funk.

Creativity is an essential aspect of human life, and it enables us to think outside the box, explore new ideas, and find solutions to problems. Many believe creativity is reserved for artists, writers, and musicians. However, this is not true! Everyone can be creative if they put their mind to it, and one of the best ways to boost creativity is to tap into your childlike imagination.

Children are known for their endless curiosity, ability to ask questions, and vivid imagination. They see the world with fresh eyes and are not bound by the same limitations and preconceptions that adults often have. By tapping into this childlike imagination, adults can unlock their own creative potential and discover new ways of thinking.

Here are some ways to boost your creativity with a childlike imagination:

Embrace curiosity: Children are naturally curious and ask a lot of questions. A two-year-old’s favorite word is, why? Embrace this curiosity and ask yourself questions about the world around you. Why does this work like that? Or, why is this important? Wonder about the things you see and the things you don’t understand. By embracing your curiosity, you’ll be able to think more deeply and creatively about the world.

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PPAI Events Certified As Carbon Neutral

PPAI has teamed with Climate Impact Partners to gather and verify the data necessary to offset the carbon footprint of three signature Association events in 2023 with the help of sponsorship from 4imprint – the No. 1 ranked distributor in the 2024 PPAI 100, earning a high mark in Responsibility. 

The three PPAI events include the North American Leadership Conference, Women’s Leadership Conference and Product Responsibility Summit. All three have been officially certified carbon neutral by Climate Impact Partners.

To guarantee third part assurance, Climate Impact Partners brought on Nature Positive for technical review of the data provided.

“As PPAI continues to provide education and resources to members to help them in their sustainability journeys, it’s important that we share ours as well,” says Elizabeth Wimbush, PPAI’s director of sustainability and responsibility. “Moving our industry towards a more sustainable future involves learning from each other and leading by example, and I hope that this helps encourage others to consider the environmental impact of their in-person events.” 

 

Read the Full Report Here