PPAI Engages Saxum as Agency of Record
Promotional Products Association International has selected Saxum (saxum.com) as its agency of record. The Oklahoma City-based agency will develop an integrated communications plan including strategic brand positioning, media relations, integrated creative content and paid media campaign launching the promotional products industry’s first cohesive awareness and branding initiative.
PPAI developed the branding initiative aided by research on buyer purchasing habits and preferences and in collaboration with industry leaders. The five-year plan is designed to position promotional products as a top of mind and preferred advertising and marketing tool among professionals responsible for branding, advertising, media planning and media buying.
"PPAI chose Saxum because of its unique approach to integrated communications, which we are confident will complement and enhance our ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the industry among promotional products buyers and the media," said Paul Bellantone, PPAI president and CEO. "As we continue to work toward bringing the industry together under one mission, one purpose, and one voice, partnering with Saxum will help us meet the challenges of the market and create a powerful voice for the industry."
"Our industry represents one of the oldest forms of branding and advertising, we are sixth among traditional and digital advertising expenditures, and we are the eighth-fastest-growing medium, still many marketers and advertising agencies have yet to take full advantage of promotional products," added Bellantone. "PPAI and Saxum will work together to drive key messaging and elevate the fact that promotional products deliver the highest rate of reach, recall and response among major forms of advertising."
Along with national and trade media outreach, Saxum will work with PPAI and the promotional products industry to develop the industry’s first multimedia evidence-based promotional products case study campaign library as a resource to media and buyers.
"As an integrated marketing communications firm, we understand the importance of identifying and maximizing all of the marketing tools that make up a balanced campaign, and that includes promotional products," said C. Renzi Stone, founder and CEO of Saxum. "We're excited about working with PPAI to expand understanding of how and why promotional products should be critical and strategic components of every organization's marketing strategy, right from the start."
With offices in Oklahoma City, Houston and Tulsa, OK, Saxum serves a diverse roster of clients that includes Fortune 100 companies, health care organizations and national associations. Founded in 2003, the agency’s diverse and experienced in-house team and worldwide network of creative and strategic partners drive demand and awareness for clients around the globe.
PPAI and SAGE Extend Power of Two Relationship
Promotional Products Association International and SAGE® (sageworld.com), the industry’s leading technology provider, announced today the extension of their Power of Two strategic alliance to deliver one comprehensive association and business management solution to promotional products distributors. The renewal agreement extends the $495 SAGE credit for PPAI distributor members. PPAI and SAGE will also be introducing a new streamlined process for membership renewals and credit redemption to be announced in March 2016 and rolled out in April.
"The Power of Two alliance has been a significant benefit to our members," said Paul Bellantone, CAE, president and CEO of PPAI. "SAGE has provided them with direct access to full product and supplier research and much more, and we are pleased to continue this relationship as our exclusive technology partner."
Through this alliance, all new and renewing PPAI distributor members receive a $495 credit toward a SAGE Total Access subscription, which completely covers the cost of the first user for the year. Additional user licenses are $95 per year. SAGE Total Access provides distributors with access to SAGE Online, SAGE Web and SAGE Mobile, SAGE’s premier suite of product research, presentation, CRM, order management and virtual sampling tools. As part of the new agreement, SAGE Mobile will serve as the official show planner app for The PPAI Expo held in January in Las Vegas, as well as for Expo East held in March in Atlantic City, New Jersey. SAGE Mobile will empower show attendees with the tools they need to conquer the show floors. Attendees can view complete event schedules, create walk lists, navigate the show floor using an interactive floor plan, add notes, pictures, videos and voice memos as they visit booths, and much more. For more information on using SAGE Mobile at these shows, visit go.sageworld.com/planexpo.
"PPAI has long been the leading authority, advocate and voice in this industry," said David Natinsky, president of SAGE. "By providing our subscribers with direct access to PPAI member benefits like legislative action tools, product safety initiatives, professional development and thousands of dollars in business savings, we are giving them the opportunity to develop as industry leaders."
Newell Rubbermaid to Acquire Jarden for $15 Billion
Jarden Corp. announced on Monday said it would merge with Newell Rubbermaid Inc. in a $15.4 billion deal, combining names like Newell's Sharpie markers and Jarden's Rawlings baseball gloves and Mr. Coffee machines, the Wall Street Journal reported. Newell will pay the equivalent of $60 for each Jarden share using a combination of cash and stock.
FTC Blocks Staples, Office Depot Merger
The Federal Trade Commission announced it has filed a suit to block Staples’ $6 billion-plus bid to acquire rival chain Office Depot. The Federal Trade Commission announced the enforcement action Monday afternoon on concerns that the merger of the only two national office supply stores will result in increased prices for corporate customers.
"The Commission has reason to believe that the proposed merger between Staples and Office Depot is likely to eliminate beneficial competition that large companies rely on to reduce the costs of office supplies," said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez.