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

July 28

Hit Promotional Products Safeguards Data With SOC 2 Audit

Hit Promotional Products (PPAI 113910, S14) has successfully completed a third-party SOC 2 audit, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of data security.

  • A Service Organization Control (SOC) report focuses on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy, and has become increasingly in demand as a requirement among security-conscious companies.
  • Through the implementation of a comprehensive set of controls encompassing security, confidentiality, processing integrity, privacy and availability, Hit has successfully enhanced data security procedures, streamlined risk management and bolstered operational efficiency while fortifying its incident response preparedness.

CIO Raj Mukherjee says, “This has been quite a journey. Our infrastructure, network and software team played a critical role in enabling us to meet our goal. This was one of the hardest projects we have undertaken, and due credit goes to CJ Schmidt and Eric Shonebarger for their support. Cyber is one thing that keeps me up at night, but these milestones help us as a team focus on the next steps. This will continue to be a journey for us as this field is ever-evolving. We recently joined the RH-ISAC group, where we are getting great intel from the ecommerce giants in our industry and would highly recommend others to consider being a member of this amazing group.”

Brikl Expands Its Network To More Than 400 Suppliers

Brikl (PPAI 803362, A1), an online store solution, has expanded its supplier network to offer access to an extensive database of more than 400 industry-leading suppliers, including SanMar, S&S, alphabroder, Augusta, Hit Promotional Products, PCNA, Vantage Apparel and hundreds more.

  • Brikl offers cutting-edge inventory and pricing enhancements alongside advanced search functionality. Brikl clients can tap into a vast network of suppliers known for their excellence and reliability without needing complicated and expensive procurement processes.

“We are thrilled to offer our customers this exciting and unparalleled advantage with our expanded supplier network,” says Dan Vermont, VP of sales at Brikl. “By partnering with industry leaders, we have removed a prominent industry obstacle: accessing premium suppliers, visibility on inventory and pricing, and sourcing the best products easily and efficiently. Through our supplier integrations, our clients will have this powerful competitive advantage along with supplier analytics and the ability to pull all product data, including prices, images, SKU details and descriptions, into their Brikl MicroStores as products to sell.”

July 27

Crystal D Hires New Midwest And Northeast Territory Managers

Crystal D (PPAI 112326, S8) welcomes two new territory managers to its team.

  • Kristin Altenburg, new Midwest territory manager, and Erika McCullough, new Northeast territory manager, will be responsible for building relationships with new and existing customers and growing sales within their territory.
  • Altenburg brings previous experience in the promotional products industry on the supplier side. McCullough has worked on the distributor side of the industry.
  • With the hiring of McCullough in the Northeast, previous Northeast Territory Manager Denise Davis will become the company’s Southern territory manager. She had been in her previous role for the past two years where she had been instrumental in growing sales.

Proforma Annual Convention And Family Reunion Draws 600-Plus To Orlando

Proforma (PPAI 196835, D13) recently wrapped up its largest event of the year, the Proforma Annual Convention and Family Reunion, at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida. More than 600 distributor owners, supplier partners, sales professionals and support center staff gathered for four days of events.

  • This year’s theme – Launch – encapsulated Proforma’s goal for all distributor owners, supplier partners and industry leaders to launch their businesses beyond their dreams to new levels of success. It featured support from more than 100 supplier sponsors along with multiple workshops and ample networking opportunities.
  • Members of the Proforma Network were also honored at Proforma’s Annual Awards Celebration, where top-achieving distributor owners, sales professionals and accomplished supplier partners were recognized.

“Proforma sets the bar in the industry for the most outstanding Convention and Family Reunion,” says attendee Steve Flaughers, owner of Proforma 3rd Degree Marketing. “This sharing of information, tips and tricks shows that the most valuable part of Proforma is the people.”

Doug Kordel, Proforma’s president and chief legal officer, adds, “Proforma’s Annual Convention is the time that a majority of our network comes together, learns new skills and keeps up to date with all the latest advancements in our industry. It is a joy to attend every year and see familiar faces surpassing their goals as well as new faces who are just getting started.”

Facilisgroup Unveils Commercio Orders: A Free Order Management Solution

Facilisgroup (PPAI 493664) announces the launch of its latest innovation, Commercio Orders. This groundbreaking, free-to-use order management software is designed specifically to cater to the unique needs of small and midsized distributors and the suppliers they work with, streamlining the process of sourcing competitively priced products, managing quotes and issuing purchase orders.

  • Commercio Orders offers a swift, cost-free solution for accessing the most competitive product prices in the marketplace. With the elimination of time-consuming and fragmented tools such as Word or Excel, Commercio Orders allows distributors to source, quote and send POs within minutes, and importantly, at no cost to them. Additionally, the system's special product pricing can potentially boost profit margins by up to 15%.
  • The Commercio Orders platform offers a suite of free tools including Special Product Pricing, Easy Quotes, Quick Purchase Orders, Live Supplier Inventory, CRM, Tax Automation and Project Management. The software’s user-friendly interface enables users to view thousands of in-stock products on a single screen, avoiding the hassle of browsing through multiple supplier websites. Moreover, it makes quote management effortless and efficient, with the ability to create, edit, and send quotes within seconds. The value of the tool goes well beyond distributors, however, as suppliers will benefit from the tool as well.

“Commercio Orders represents our commitment to creating accessible, cost-effective solutions for every distributor in the promotional products industry,” says Ashley McCune, president of Facilisgroup. “We have developed this free-to-use platform to help small and midsized distributors overcome operational challenges and unlock new levels of efficiency and profitability.”

McCune adds, “We’ve always firmly believed in equal partnerships with both our distributor and supplier partners. Through these deeply founded relationships, we have recognized the challenges faced by suppliers and that while existing technology platforms offer tools targeting the distributor, so few have considered what the suppliers need to operate. Just like us, so many suppliers believe in the smaller distributor and everything they bring to our industry. It is important suppliers have better efficiencies and tools to lower their costs to serve. By partnering with suppliers first, we’ve built this technology to ensure that it is holistically answering the needs for the entire industry, supporting growth and the small entrepreneur distributor.”

July 24

ACS Affiliate Services Brings On Two New Affiliate Partners And A New Hire

ACS Affiliate Services, a division of Altitude Group and a subsidiary of AIM Smarter (PPAI 230461, D12) has added two new partners to its affiliate community: Gulf Islands Promotion and The Idea Source Inc.

“We are excited about the future of ACS with the addition of these new affiliate partners,” says Kirk Ross, executive vice president of ACS Affiliate Services. “The strong culture inside ACS and the valued affiliate community is something special to be a part of every day. We are big enough to take care of our affiliates’ everyday needs, but our approach is collaborative, personal and focused on them and their growth goals. The difference is in the strategy.”

In other news, the company has added Britne Rosalez to its Account Services team.

  • Rosalez will support the distributor affiliate program by offering time-saving services, streamlining daily operations and facilitating full business financing for ACS's valued partners.
  • She joins ACS from HALO, where she has worked since 2016, and brings a wealth of industry experience in import project management, sourcing and customer service.

Ross adds, “Our strong organizational culture is a cornerstone of our success, and having Britne, with her years of experience in the distributor domain, is a tremendous asset for ACS and its affiliates. Her exceptional communication skills, warm demeanor and can-do attitude will undoubtedly make a significant difference for our affiliate community.”