(Editor’s Note: PromoWire by PPAI Media is a running digest of updates from organizations around the promotional products industry. PPAI Media will consider newsworthy entries submitted by any member organization.)

November 20

Salt Life Brand Expands Its Retail Presence With Three New Stores

Delta Apparel (PPAI 188431, S9) continues expansion of its Salt Life brand’s retail footprint with the opening of three new retail locations.

  • Two stores opened in October in Florida (in Pompano Beach and St. Augustine), and next month it opens the first store in Virginia (Williamsburg). The Pompano Beach location also houses a state-of-the-art content studio and multi-media broadcast platform for the Sport Fishing Championship (SFC), the governing body of saltwater tournament fishing, in connection with Salt Life’s 10-year sponsorship agreement to serve as its official apparel and sunglasses provider.
  • By year end, Salt Life will operate 28 retail stores, including 15 full-price stores and 13 outlet stores across the country comprising over 55,000 square feet of retail floor space.

“Continued expansion of our retail presence is an important piece of our omnichannel strategy and an exhilarating step forward for Salt Life, allowing us to bring the Salt Life experience to ocean enthusiasts in markets across the country,” says Jeff Stillwell, Salt Life Group president. “Our new stores are more than just retail storefronts; they are vibrant spaces where customers can immerse themselves in the salty lifestyle and experience our passion for all things on the water.”

Robert W. Humphreys, chairman and chief executive officer of Delta Apparel, says, “Sales in Salt Life’s retail channel are among the most profitable sales across our entire company, and the consistent gains we see in key metrics such as conversion rate and transaction value continue to affirm our significant investment in this area.”

S&S Welcomes Lisa Gould As Chief People Officer

S&S (PPAI 256121, S12) has appointed Lisa Gould as chief people officer.

  • With a career spanning organizational development, talent acquisition and employee engagement, Gould will lead the company's human resources and talent management strategies.

“Lisa’s genuine passion for people and commitment to fostering an inclusive and people-first work environment make her the ideal fit to join the S&S team,” says CEO Frank Myers. “We are grateful Lisa has chosen to bring her talents to S&S, and we’re excited for everything we’ll accomplish together.”

Gould says, “The energy and excitement of the S&S team is electric and contagious. I’m looking forward to teaming up with this vibrant crew, combining our expertise to guide our people strategies and enhance our team’s operations, all aimed at propelling our continued success and expansion.”


November 16

4imprint Honored With Vets Ready Employer Award

For the third consecutive year, 4imprint’s (PPAI 107200, D16) support for veterans has been recognized with a silver certification by the Vets Ready Employer Initiative, a program of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and its Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES).

  • Gov. Tony Evers recently honored the company and 16 other top veteran-friendly employers in Wisconsin for going above and beyond in efforts to hire and support veterans and their families.

4imprint has shown appreciation for veterans’ service in these ways:

  • The company hosts an annual open house for organizations that assist veterans in gaining employment, attends local job fairs geared toward employing veterans, networks with veterans’ organizations and features veteran associates’ stories on the 4imprint website.
  • 4imprint offers paid time off for Veterans Day for members of the armed services and their spouses, flies the Armed Forces flag at the company’s distribution center and annually recognizes associates who are veterans for their service.
  • As an employer, 4imprint provides a Military Leave and a Pay Differential Program for members of the military for scheduled training, drills or a call to active duty. This program supports members of the military in their service and provides salary continuity for up to 10 days annually.

In making the presentation to this year’s recipients, Gov. Tony Evers said, “Veterans bring invaluable and tremendous assets to the workplace, and I commend these Vets Ready employers for their work to hire and support veterans. This distinction will help elevate the work of these employers and give them the competitive edge in recruiting and retaining veterans.”

“We’re honored to have veterans choose to join and remain part of our team,” says Kevin Lyons-Tarr, 4imprint CEO. “We strive to continue to create an environment where they feel welcome, appreciated and valued.”

Hit Promotional Products Helps Bring Safe Drinking Water To Children

In April and May 2023, Hit Promotional Products (PPAI 113910, S14) contributed a percentage of sales from its drinkware category to support Planet Water Foundation through the industry organization PromoCares and its Water4Good event.

  • Planet Water’s mission is to provide children throughout parts of the world with access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene education.
  • PromoCares’s goal this year was to raise funds to build up to three AquaTowers in disadvantaged communities in Mexico. A single tower will give fresh water to 1,800 people.
  • Through Hit’s first drinkware campaign, it achieved its goal of helping build the first AquaTower.

“I am proud to announce Hit Promotional Products has partnered again with PromoCares and the Water4Good initiative and we will contribute to the build of additional Aqua Towers in an effort to provide safe and clean drinking water to the children and communities,” says Hit CEO CJ Schmidt.

November 7

Tom Sweet Elected To 3M Board of Directors

3M, which operates in the promo industry as 3M Promotional Markets (PPAI 113638, S11) announces that Tom Sweet, retired chief financial officer of Dell Technologies, has been elected to its Board of Directors, effective November 6.

  • Sweet previously served as CFO of Dell Technologies from 2014-2023, retiring after 26 years of leadership with the company. Prior to Dell, he was vice president of accounting and finance for Telos Corporation and also spent 13 years with Price Waterhouse providing audit and accounting services to the technology industry.
  • He also serves on the board of directors of Trimble, an industrial technology company, and on the Salvation Army of Central Texas Advisory Board.

“We are very pleased to welcome Tom to 3M’s board as a proven leader who has helped create value through strategic planning and operational execution throughout his career,” says chairman and CEO Mike Roman. “Tom's deep financial expertise and leadership experience in business strategy will be invaluable to our board, and our customers, shareholders, and others who depend on 3M's global manufacturing leadership.”