(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.)

January 16

Proforma Honors Martin Luther King Jr. With ‘Proform-A-Service’ Day

Proforma (PPAI 196835, D13) is honoring the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by providing its Support Center team members with a floating holiday to use this month for a day of service within their local communities.

  • In turn, individuals and teams have organized service opportunities including volunteering at local food shelters, beach and highway cleanup efforts, and literacy activities like reading to students at nearby schools.
  • This is Proforma’s second year of commemorating Dr. King’s legacy with a company-wide service day.

“In his time and despite great challenges, Dr. King still aspired to make the world a more just and compassionate place,” says Brian Roney, senior director of product development. “As such, we can think of no better way to observe MLK Day than fostering community and embodying the principles of love and unity that Dr. King championed."

“It has been so exciting to see our Support Team members adopt this new tradition with such enthusiasm,” says Kathy Mayo, director of human resources. “Positive change is never a one-time thing, but rather a consistent effort, and at Proforma we stand strong in our commitment to cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. We invite all of you – our distributor owners, supplier partners and the community at large to join our efforts and do more good together.”

January 15

Pro Towels And Web Services Pros Celebrate Two Year Anniversary

This week, at The PPAI Expo, Pro Towels (PPAI 112755, S8) – ranked the No. 42 supplier in the inaugural PPAI 100 – and Web Services Pros/PromoLink (PPAI 799562, A01) mark the second anniversary of their partnership that resulted in the January 2023 launch of their PromoStandards Catalog Integration.

  • The collaboration has since flourished with the introduction of PromoStandards endpoints, which includes Product Data 2.0.0, Inventory 2.0.0, Product Pricing and Configuration 1.0.0, and Media Content 1.1.0 seamlessly integrated into platforms such as SAGE and Distributor Central/Order My Gear.

Kevin Nord, CEO and owner of Pro Towels, says, “Our partnership with Web Services Pros has truly elevated our information technology integration to new heights. The PromoStandards endpoints have made our products and inventory easily accessible to all, and we are thrilled to celebrate two years of successful collaboration.”

Looking back, Robert Guler, president of Web Services Pros, shares his thoughts on the collaborative journey. “Revamping the Pro Towels catalog for this launch was truly a ride. Our team’s dedication to meeting Pro Towels’ high standards and tight deadlines has solidified our commitment to achieving excellence in PromoStandards integration.”

January 11

CompanyPromoStore And IMX Solutions Team Up To Deliver Advanced Technology Solutions

CompanyPromoStore (PPAI 310231, A01) has partnered with IMX Solutions, a technology solutions provider, to offer a wide range of cost and time-saving technology solutions for their clients.

  • CompanyPromoStore provides an integrated company store platform to manage and streamline clients’ promotional product programs more efficiently. This new partnership allows the company to tap into IMX Solutions’ team of developers and access their experience.
  • IMX Solutions, an experienced big data company, has been working in the promo industry for more than eight years. By integrating with decorators, IMX Solutions enables complete end-to-end automated fulfillment logistics, eliminating manual steps and reducing the risk of human error.

“We are thrilled to partner with IMX Solutions,” says Mark Heckler, co-founder of CompanyPromoStore. “Their familiarity in the promotional product industry, coupled with their cutting-edge technology solutions, will greatly enhance our offering to clients. Together, we will provide comprehensive and efficient solutions that will streamline the promotional products industry.”

January 8

Fullarton Group Adds Five New Distributor Members

During the fourth quarter of 2023, Fullarton Group (PPAI 754285, A00), a buying group of promo distributors and manufacturers across the U.S. and Canada, welcomed five new distributor members to its network, bringing the total count of distributors to 75.

  • The new members are Bankers Advertising, Holmes Specialty Advertising, CFDF Promo, Sourcing Central and All-Ways Advertising.

Keith Addis, president at Fullarton Group, says, “Their inclusion not only expands our geographical reach and volume growth but also bolsters our collective expertise as independent business owners. A big part of our purpose is fostering these like-minded relationships to better our businesses.”