Show Buzz :: Promotions East

SAAGNY Announces Quality Certification Alliance as PROMOTIONS EAST 2011 Education Sponsor

May 12, 2011

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY), Woodcliff Lake, N.J., announced that the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional products industry's only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, is the 2011 PROMOTIONS EAST Education Sponsor.

PROMOTIONS EAST 2011, held in Atlantic City, N.J., June 6-8, features 26 education sessions with specialized conference tracks including: Sales, Marketing, Strategies, New Distributor, Business Management, Brand, Apparel U, and Technology.

"The Education Program at PROMOTIONS EAST addresses the most important issues facing our industry today," said Jonathan Riegel, executive director for SAAGNY. "As a leading organization focused on product safety and compliance issues, we are very pleased that QCA is the PROMOTIONS EAST 2011 Education Sponsor."

To view the full 2011 Education Schedule, visit www.Promotionseast.org/Educationbrochure.

Brent Stone, QCA executive director, operations, stated, "QCA is pleased to be part of the forward-thinking education offered at PROMOTIONS EAST." Stone added, "We look forward to providing PROMOTIONS EAST attendees and exhibitors with the tools to improve compliance solutions and help companies to better respond to product safety requests from their end-buyers."

To register to attend PROMOTIONS EAST, visit www.promotionseast.org. PROMOTIONS EAST is the largest and longest-running promotional products industry trade show on the East Coast. More than 500 exhibiting suppliers and more than 3,500 distributors gather in famous Atlantic City, N.J. each June.

This year's show will include three days of education, networking and social events, combined with a high-energy experience on the trade show floor.

About QCA

Chicago, Illinois-based Quality Certification Alliance is an independent accreditation organization whose mission is to elevate the standards by which industry firms that import and/or manufacture promotional products provide consistently safe, high-quality, socially compliant and environmentally conscientious merchandise. QCA Accreditation is granted to companies who complete an independent third-party audit and comply with stringent standards, which are based upon a combination of state and national laws, international standards and industry-accepted best practices that are recognized for their strength and effectiveness by QCA Accredited companies, the promotional products industry and end-user clients.

QCA was formed in July 2008, and today 15 companies have meet the rigorous qualifications to achieve QCA Accreditation: Avaline; Barton Nelson Inc.; BDA Inc.; Broder Bros.; Bullet; Dard Products Inc.; Fanda Enterprises Inc. dba PromoFactory; Garyline; Gemline; Gordon Sinclair; Leed's; Logomark Inc.; MMI; Prime Line; and Sweda Company LLC. Others companies are expected to soon complete the process. In July 2010, the QCA Distributor Advocacy Group was created to formalize the relationship the organization has with distributors who understand the value compliance programs have in building stronger relationships with suppliers, creating competitive advantage in the marketplace and building loyalty with their end-buyer clients. In is currently comprised of 14 companies, which represent more than $850 million in annual promotional products sales.

D. E. (Denise) Fenton serves as executive director, compliance, and Brent Stone serves as executive director, operations.

For more information, visit www.qcalliance.org.

PROMOTIONS EAST to host PPAI's Brand Incentives Showcase

The city that says it’s “Always Turned On,” is now playing host to the promotional products industry’s most highly regarded incentives showcase: PPAI’s Brand.

During a special exhibition at PROMOTIONS EAST, you will have the opportunity to not only see, first hand, why corporate America spends $46 billion annually on the incentives market, but why you, the promotional consultant, should be the one reaping those lucrative rewards.

Meet sought-after factory representatives. See the latest branded products. Learn how to add incentives into your current offerings. All during brand.

It’s time to be the distributor who’s rewarded with great sales, who’s recognized as a leader in the industry, who’s remembered each time your customer has a call for incentives. It’s time to boost your business by capturing big profits in a sales-rich industry. It’s time to attend brand.

Scheduled to Exhibit in the Brand Pavilion (as of April 1)

Aloe Up Suncare Products

Bose Corporation

Carson Optical

Castle Merchandising Inc

Elite Creations

Incentive Concepts

Indigo

Peggy Karr Glass, Inc

Rymax Marketing Services

Sony Electronics Inc.

Top Brands, Inc.

PROMOTIONS EAST 2011 Announces Conference Program

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York Inc. (SAAGNY), Woodcliff, N.J., announced the PROMOTIONS EAST University education program for PROMOTIONS EAST 2011, June 5-8, in Atlantic City, N.J.

With nearly 3,500 attendees each year, PROMOTIONS EAST strives to provide the most inclusive education offering in the industry. This year's PROMOTIONS EAST University will kick off on the first day of setup, June 5, with a the Supplier Round Table, followed by a full-day schedule on setup day June 6 and continue through show days June 7 and 8. The 2011 education offering features 26 total sessions, covering all aspects of promotional product sales.

Featuring prominent speakers from across the industry, including distributors and suppliers from the top promotional products companies, the conference program at PROMOTIONS EAST 2011 is not to be missed. Exhibitors and attendees can register for these valuable education sessions when they register for the show at www.promotionseast.org.

Some session highlights include:

* "Get Maximum Results from Every Marketing $ You Spend" - David Blaise, Blaise Drake & Company Inc.

* "The Top 10 Things Clients REALLY Want" - Cliff Quicksell, MAS

* "Social Networking for Promotional Professionals" - Dana R. Zezzo, CAS, Pro Towels Etc.

"We are thrilled to continually deliver an education schedule that is in tune with the pulse of the industry," said Paula Shulman, SAAGNY president. "The 2011 PROMOTIONS EAST University offers sales professionals the tools to navigate today's challenging business environment."

To view the full education schedule visit www.promotionseast.org.

PROMOTIONS EAST 2011 Registration Opens

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) and its six regional partners announced open registration to PROMOTIONS EAST 2011 today. This year's trade show will be held June 5-8, 2011 in Atlantic City, N.J. Register to attend the Industry's Premier East Coast Event by visiting www.promotionseast.org. Attendance is free for qualified distributors.

For show hours and information, visit www.promotionseast.org

About PROMOTIONS EAST

PROMOTIONS EAST is the largest and oldest promotional products industry trade show on the East Coast. More than 500 exhibiting suppliers and more than 3,500 distributors gather in famous Atlantic City, N.J. each June.

This year's show will include three days of education, networking and social events, combined with a high-energy experience on the trade show floor.

About SAAGNY

The show is produced by The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY), the largest regional association in the promotional products industry. It serves the interests of the industry in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. SAAGNY's headquarters are in Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

SAAGNY Appoints New Executive Director

The board of directors of the Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Riegel , MAS, as executive director of the association effective immediately. Riegel will also serve as the executive director of the affiliated nonprofit SAAGNY Foundation. Riegel has been a promotional products distributor for 16 years and an active SAAGNY volunteer for the past 15 years. As a volunteer, he served on and chaired many association committees, including Membership, Programs & Meetings, Legal Affairs and PROMOTIONS EAST. In 2002, he was elected to the SAAGNY board of directors, ultimately serving as president in 2009. SAAGNY president Paula Shulman, CAS, remarked, "We are excited to welcome Jon to our staff. He has as intimate understanding of our association that very few possess, and at the same time the creativity to lead us forward. I am confident he is the right choice for now and the future. Few volunteers have committed as much time to SAAGNY as Jon has and we know that his dedication and passion will serve him well as our new executive director." "I am grateful to the current board for having the faith in me to lead SAAGNY into the future," Riegel said. "SAAGNY has a long, proud tradition of innovation and excellence within the promotional products community. I look forward to working with the current board and all our dedicated volunteers to develop creative solutions to today's challenges and continue that legacy. SAAGNY and the SAAGNY Foundation have been a very meaningful part of my life for the past 15 years. Both organizations are facing significant challenges, and both boards will undoubtedly be successful in meeting those challenges. I am thrilled to be in a position to help both groups reach new heights." Ellen Bernstein, MAS, chairperson of the SAAGNY Foundation board of trustees, commented, "I am sorry to lose Jon as a Foundation volunteer but we know he will be a great asset to the Foundation as our executive director." Riegel lives in Hewlett, N.Y. with his wife Rachel and daughter Mara.

2011 SAAGNY Board Installed

The 2011 Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) board of directors, elected at the annual meeting in November, was installed on December 16 at the Chart House, Weehawken, N.J. The board's term of office will begin on January 1, 2011.

2011 Board of Directors

Officers:
* President - Paula Shulman, CAS, Prime Line (S)

* President Elect/Vice President - Alan Baker, CAS, Creative Marketing Concepts (D)

* Treasurer/Secretary - Mike Leone, Hit Promotional Products (S)

* Officer at Large - Peter Farman, Sanford Business-To-Business (S)

* Immediate Past President - Brett Schaffer, CAS, Soundline (S)

Directors:

* Al Bernstein, MAS, Accent on Promotions (D)

* Rhonda Blum, Motivators (D)

* Carol Constantino, Noteworthy (S)

* George Gorniok, MAS, Notes, Inc. (S)

* Jamie Mark, Prime Line (S)

* Eric Rackoff, Staples Promotional Products (D)

* Michael Reisbaum, ProCon Marketing (D)

* Ken Tymula, Sterling Cut Glass (S)

At the same event, the recipient of the 2010 Hall of Fame Award was inducted into the SAAGNY Hall of Fame.

Established nearly 20 years ago, the SAAGNY Hall of Fame seeks to identify special people who did more than just volunteer and honor those whose service made a difference for SAAGNY. While everyone deserves recognition, only a few are selected by their peers for induction into the SAAGNY Hall of Fame.

Ellen Bernstein, MAS, Accent on Promotions, Pomona, N.Y. exemplifies the qualities and accomplishments required to be inducted into the SAAGNY Hall of Fame. Bernstein's service to SAAGNY has been long in duration and encompasses every key aspect of the association. A former SAAGNY president, Bernstein served on the SAAGNY board of directors from 1999 to 2005. A firm believer in volunteering to give back, Bernstein has been a driving force behind The SAAGNY Foundation. Bernstein's service has not been restricted to SAAGNY, but has encompassed community service as well.

For more information on SAAGNY, visit www.saagny.org.