(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.)

February 15

Charles River Apparel Announces Staffing, Leadership Team Updates

Charles River Apparel (PPAI 111644, S10) has announced several staffing and organizational updates across the Sharon, Massachusetts-based supplier.

Changes to the leadership team includes the promotion of Marketing Director Jason Lipsett to vice president of strategic initiatives and hiring Tejinder Virk as vice president of supply chain.

  • Over recent months, the company also hired new employees in Marketing, Supply Chain, and Information Technology, including Pamela Preuss, Theresa Carey, Lucy Barajas and Trevor Hetherton.

Lipsett will continue to oversee Marketing while also advancing strategic planning, spearheading key projects and nurturing the company’s organizational development and culture.

“As a family business, we believe our success boils down to our incredible team,” says Lipsett. “We’re energized by the exciting changes happening within the organization and see numerous opportunities as we continue to evolve the organization with forward-thinking strategies."

Virk brings experience in supply chain, product development, sourcing, production management and manufacturing with global brands.

“The apparel and textile industry has been my professional DNA on the senior management level for over two decades,” says Virk. “Charles River Apparel’s product line is well within my professional expertise and certainly a catalyst in my decision to take on the challenge to head the supply chain compounded by longevity and history of the company.

“I am looking forward to the privilege of managing and executing Charles River Apparel’s supply chain process.”

February 14

Following Acquisition, Helm Joins The Legacy Group

Helm Promotions (PPAI 105580, D11), headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, has joined The Legacy Group as its newest distributor partner.

Last month, Helm parent company Banyan Technologies Group, acquired Baltimore-based Target Marketing Group (PPAI 108998, D5), an existing Legacy partner company.

  • John Leahy, founder and CEO of Target Marketing Group and a founding partner of The Legacy Group, will remain with TMG as president.

The Legacy Group, founded in 2000, is an alliance of ten distributors across the U.S. and Canada. With Helm onboard, The Legacy Group’s combined revenue has grown to approximately $350 million annually.

“We are enthusiastic about our merger with Helm and the new opportunities this will present,” says Leahy. “We also are excited to introduce Helm to The Legacy Group and our great future together.”

February 13

Safety Regs For Button And Zinc-Air Batteries Go Into Effect In March

The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s button cell and coin battery safety regulations, issued under Sections 2 and 3 of Reese’s Law, are scheduled to be enforced starting next month. The Office of Compliance and Field Operations has announced that no additional extensions have been granted for enforcement of the requirements.

  • The 180-day transitional period of enforcement for button cell or coin batteries ends on March 19, 2024. The one-year transitional period for zinc-air button cell or coin batteries ends March 8, 2024.
  • Reese’s Law, enacted August 16, 2022, requires these batteries to include a warning label that clearly identifies the hazard of ingestion and instructs consumers to keep the batteries out of the reach of children, seek immediate medical attention if a battery is ingested, and follow any other consensus medical advice. Consumer products containing the batteries must also include a battery compartment that eliminates or adequately reduces the risk of injury from battery ingestion by children who are six years of age or younger.
  • Additionally, the batteries, if sold separately or included separately with a product, must comply with federal child-resistant packaging regulations.
  • Read the CPSC’s letter here and find more information here. The CPSC Small Business Ombudsman Team also has produced a webinar; view it here.


Tom Carpenter To Rep Garyline In Southwest U.S.

Industry veteran Tom Carpenter has joined Garyline (PPAI 112004, S10) as southwest territory sales manager.

  • He will cover a select group key accounts including iPromoteu, Vernon, AIA and Kaeser & Blair and will represent the company in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Iowa.

“We are excited to have Tom on board,” says Rick LeDonne, national sales manager for Garyline. “Tom brings over 20 years of industry experience to Garyline. We think Tom is a great fit for Garyline due to his experience in the industry, and how well he is known in the region.”