(Editor’s Note: PromoWire by PPAI Media is a running digest of news releases and updates submitted from organizations around the industry. PPAI Media edits these only slightly, including for length, and will consider newsworthy entries from any member organization.)

August 10, 2022

Name Badges International Offers New Borderless Name Badges 

Name Badges International recently added a new style to its wide array of identification products. Borderless Plastic Name Badges are now available with full color printing of logos and text. They come in a wide range of background colors and font options to suit. There is no border, but the outside edges come in black or white.  

One of the most affordable badges in the company line, it comes with your choice of a pin or magnetic fitting for attaching to apparel. They also are coated with polyurethane to resist scratching and fading. Badges come in three sizes: 2 15/16 inch by 1 inch, 2 15/16 inch by 1 3/8th inch and 2 15/16 by 1 3/16ths inch.

There is no minimum order, and no setup or design fees. Prices decrease depending on the quantity ordered. Delivery is usually between seven and 10 days from artwork approval.

August 9, 2022

PromoStandards Adds A New Advisory Board Member, Welcomes Amy Rabideau

PromoStandards is pleased to announce the addition of a new member to its advisory board. The new board member, Amy Rabideau, is the VP of Product at Facilisgroup. She brings to PromoStandards 24 years of experience in the promotional products industry.

"As soon as Amy Rabideau got involved in PromoStandards, it was evident that she would quickly become a valuable member of the community,” said Eric Alessi, the Chairman of PromoStandards. “Fast forward to today, and we're excited to welcome Amy as a board member and the chair of the MMEC, the Membership, Marketing, and Education Committee. She is a fantastic contribution to PromoStandards, and we look forward to her valuable involvement."

Prior to working at Facilisgroup, the market-leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) company for promotional product firms, Amy was the Sr. Project Director at eXtendTech, where NetSuite experts create apps with tailored solutions for businesses within the promotional products industry. Before that, Amy was the Director of Purchasing at Summit Group, LLC, which offers creative marketing services and branded merchandise solutions.

She holds a BS in Business Administration from Medaille University.

“The PromoStandards community is full of amazing, talented, and innovative individuals supported by companies driving the change in how the promotional products industry transacts business. I’m excited to serve the PromoStandards community in this new capacity,” said Amy.

Spector & Co. Welcomes Patricia Keays As Strategic Accounts Manager

Spector & Co. is excited to announce the addition of Patricia Keays to its North American sales team. As a prime Strategic Accounts Manager, Keays plays a key role in connecting with our distributors from the West Coast, overseeing sales and client care to the highest Spector quality standards.

Keays comes to Spector with a distributor's perspective having spent 12 years with notable companies like Rightsleeve and most recently with Robertson Marketing. “Patricia’s passion and excitement for the [promotional products] industry is undeniable,” said Samantha Kates, Chief Sales Officer at Spector & Co. “Her deep knowledge of the business and her purposeful approach to customer service is exactly what we look for in our managers.”

According to Keays, she has always been impressed with the adaptability and innovation that Spector & Co. brings to the industry and is excited to represent Spector in this post-pandemic world. “I am thrilled to be managing the West Coast Territory, building relationships, and working hand in hand with the incredible talent in this organization - and with our partners - to transition back to a pre-pandemic time, addressing the new needs and strategies of our clients and their end users. It truly is an honour,” says Keays.

Raining Rose Announces Promotions, Changes to Leadership Team

Raining Rose Promos announced today that Kate Nash has been promoted to Director of Promotional Sales and Director of Marketing. In addition, Nate Robson was promoted as VP of Sales and Marketing over all divisions of Raining Rose, Inc.

The changes come in preparation for Raining Rose Promos’ continued growth and strategic expansion in the promotional products industry.

“The move to the Promo group was a natural progression for Kate,” said Chuck Hammond, Raining Rose CEO. “Kate has been supporting all our sales groups with marketing and strategic planning. Over the last year she has been actively engaged with the Promo group to refine its business model and customer experience. In her new role Kate can take this division to the next level.”

Kate joined Raining Rose in 2019 as Director of Marketing, guiding marketing execution and strategy across multiple company divisions. In her new role, Kate leads the promotional sales team, determines future investments, spearheads product development, and oversees daily operations, in addition to guiding marketing strategy across all divisions of the company. Before Raining Rose, Kate served in marketing and service delivery roles for higher education and technology companies. She brings a wealth of experience in sales, marketing and service technology and automation to her work.

“The promotional products industry has proven time and again how it can adapt to the changing needs of the broader economy, and these post-pandemic years are no exception,” said Kate. “I am very excited to be leading Raining Rose Promos during this chapter of our growth, and during this moment in the industry.”

As the new VP of Sales and Marketing at Raining Rose, Inc., Nate will be responsible for accelerating company growth through strategic initiatives, bridging sales growth and operational excellence.

“Nate brings a breadth of experience to this role and can work at a strategic level to help Raining Rose continue to evolve to an ever-changing market,” said Chuck. “As our capabilities have grown over the years it has required more focus and discipline to support the clients with whom we work. Nate has a unique ability to work between our various groups to ensure we are set up for success.”

“In my 11 years with the company, I have been focused on initiatives that support our overall success, especially during my 8 years leading our promotional products division,” said Nate. “I am excited to step into this role and help lead the organization to continued success.”

Superior Group Of Companies, Inc. Reports Operating Results For The Second Quarter Ended june 30, 2022

Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGC) (the “Company”) today announced its second quarter operating results for 2022.

The Company announced that for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, net sales increased 13.1% to $147.9 million, compared to second quarter 2021 net sales of $130.8 million. Pretax loss was ($29.0) million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to pretax income of $5.5 million in the second quarter of 2021. Net loss was ($26.7) million or ($1.70) per diluted share for the second quarter of 2022 compared to net income of $6.4 million, or $0.40 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2021.

In the second quarter of 2022, the Company recognized pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges related to goodwill of $24.5 million ($23.6 million net of tax, or $1.50 per diluted share) and tradenames of $5.6 million ($4.4 million net of tax, or $0.28 per diluted share). In the second quarter of 2021, the Company recognized a pre-tax, non-cash settlement charge related to the termination of its defined benefit pension plans of $6.9 million ($4.5 million net of tax, or $0.28 per diluted share).

On an adjusted basis, which excludes the above charges in 2022 and 2021, net income was $1.3 million or $0.08 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2022 compared to net income of $10.9 million, or $0.68 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2021. At the conclusion of this press release is a reconciliation of reported-to-adjusted results, including a description of the significant items.

During the second quarter, the Company began the transition of key leadership positions as previously communicated with the addition of Catherine Beldotti Donlan, President of Healthcare Apparel and Mike Koempel, Chief Financial Officer. The transition has been seamless with the support of Peter Benstock serving as a healthcare apparel advisor and Andy Demott, former Chief Financial Officer, continuing to serve as Chief Operating Officer. The Company also added management expertise in supply chain, distribution and division management to support its long-term growth objectives.

“In order to further position for growth, we re-aligned the Company along three business segments: Healthcare Apparel, Branded Products and Contact Centers,” said Michael Benstock, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. This re-alignment enables a more singular focus on healthcare, the ability to capitalize on synergies across all branded product offerings and a continued focus on driving significant growth in our contact centers. Overall, while we were pleased with our revenue growth this quarter, we recognize the ever-evolving macro environment and emerging challenges of rising interest rates and historic levels of inflation. As a result, we are taking a disciplined and prudent approach to cash management and have begun to implement cost initiatives of at least $8 million in annualized savings, while still maintaining our focus on consistent sales growth.”