August 24, 2022

Koozie Group Serves More Than Just Food At Summer BBQs 

A company get-together is always an excellent bonding opportunity for employees. It gives them a chance to swap stories, share a laugh, and grab a bite to eat with one another. 

The recent summer barbecues at Koozie Group’s three locations in Clearwater, Florida, and Red Wing and Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, did all that and more, featuring delicious meals and fun-filled games, including dunk tanks! But in addition to fun and food, the events also served something even greater: the community.

Adhering to the company’s motto, keep the good going®, Koozie Group employees who attended the barbecues stepped up to assemble back-to-school backpacks for their local United Way chapters. Team members filled the bags with learning essentials, including markers, crayons, pencils, water bottles, and more, to be distributed to local families. Altogether, Koozie Group employees across the company’s three sites packed a total of 2,000 backpacks.

Employee Experience & Communications Specialist Trisha Joyce said, “I want to thank all our employees who came out and made the barbecues such a success. It was special to see our incredible hardworking team members socializing and having fun together while also giving back to local causes that Koozie Group’s sites have been supporting for such a long time.”

Besides the backpack donations, over $3,000 was raised during the barbeques across the three sites. The money will be donated locally to support families in need during the holiday season.

Koozie Group continues to be active in the communities in which it operates by participating in local parades, as well as food, backpack, and holiday drives, to name a few. Across its three sites, Koozie Group donated more than $250,000 to over 100 nonprofit organizations in 2021. Through the end of 2022, Koozie Group is donating 5% of sales on all writing instrument orders to regional chapters of United Way in Florida and Minnesota.

American Solutions for Business Raises $10,000 For Make-A-Wish Foundation During American Summit

American Solutions for Business hosted a charity event, raising $10,000 during this year’s Summit. The Summit event features two days of supplier education sessions for top ranking ASB sales associates from around the country to celebrate their achievements over the last year. The fundraising started a month before the event, in which participants could purchase a paper star for $25. Those stars were then displayed throughout the ballroom during the Summit week.

“We set a goal of $5,000, knowing how giving our American family usually is to our host cities,” explained Justin Zavadil, President of American. “We were blown away once we realized that the funds raised were double that. I couldn’t be prouder of these efforts.”

A representative of Make-a-Wish Illinois was present to accept the donation and explain further the importance of the charity.

“Make-A-Wish Illinois was overjoyed by the generosity and the support of the American Solutions for Business team,” expressed Make-A-Wish Gift Officer, Ashley White. “To walk into their conference room and see all of the stars on the wall was so impactful. Because of their team and supporting vendors, another future wish child will experience the hope, strength, and joy that wish provides.”

August 23, 2022

American Solutions For Business Hosts Annual Summit In Chicago, IL

American Solutions for Business hosted their annual American Summit in Chicago, IL last week. The Summit event features two days of supplier education sessions during the day in individual suites, as well as supplier-sponsored socials in the evening. Top ranking ASB sales associates from around the country gathered for this yearly recognition of their achievements over the last year.

“This is always an event that everyone involved looks forward to,” expressed Larry Zavadil, ASB Founder & CEO. “It’s one thing to send a congratulatory email, but it feels much more personable when you can look them in the eye and say ‘Hey, you’ve worked hard this year. You deserve this.’”

The 3-day event also featured a charity fundraiser that collected donations starting weeks before. ASB team members and supplier partners raised a total of $10,000 for Make-A-Wish Illinois, doubling their previous goal of $5,000.

“I think this was our best Summit yet!” explained VP of Marketing, Vendor Relations & Events, Dana Zezzo. “My team went above and beyond this year not only in the branding, but creating an atmosphere for education and networking that we hope our sales associates hold onto until next year.”

Ennis, Inc. Acquires Assets of Gulf Business Forms

Ennis, Inc. (the “Company”), (NYSE: EBF), today announced its acquisition of certain assets including customer lists and intellectual property of Gulf Business Forms, in San Marcos, TX. Gulf Business Forms is a trade printer specializing in custom-printed documents including business forms, laser cut sheets, brochures, pamphlets, in-line glue booklets, and variable short-run solutions.

Keith Walters, Chairman, President & CEO of the Company stated, “Gulf has been a strong competitor and leading brand throughout the country with customers spanning from California in the southwest to Massachusetts in the northeast. We are excited about adding the Gulf brand and their customers to the Ennis family.” Gulf Business Forms has been serving distributors from its operations in Texas for more than 50 years since its founding in 1968.

Upon closing, Gulf Business Forms customer files, as well as phones and emails, will be relocated to the Ennis, TX plant. The quoting and manufacturing facility for orders previously produced by Gulf Business Forms will be determined by customer input, product type, and location to best meet their needs.