Maple Ridge Farms Hunger Busters Help with Smack for Hunger
Over 10,000 meals were packaged in less than 100 minutes at Marathon Park Pavilion in Wausau, WI last month.
Maple Ridge Farms employees and their children volunteered their time to package Mac & Cheese meals that could help about 60,000 people. Megan Rheinschmidt, order processing manager and team coordinator of the “Hunger Busters,” raised an additional $325 prior to the event with in office cookouts. Strengthening our local community is something that we all participated in! Many Leaders in our organization had their children or grandchildren participate in the event as well.
Prime Line Surpassed 4 Million Rubik's Products Sold
Prime Line (Prime Resources Corp.) announced that it surpassed sales of four million Rubik’s branded items. To commemorate the milestone, the company released a new Rubik’s video https://vimeo.com/168966300.
Since 2001, Prime Line has been the exclusive industry supplier of the Rubik’s brand in North America. “Our Rubik’s sales showed a big uptick last year and this trend has continued in 2016,” said Jeff Lederer, president and CEO of Prime Line. “The Rubik’s Cube is special in that it gives marketers an opportunity to brand with a cultural icon. It’s also a great vehicle to tell the story of a new product, service, merger or acquisition. Last but not least, it’s challenging and fun to play,” adds Lederer.
Prime’s Rubik’s growth mirrors what is happening at retail around the world where Rubik’s sales jumped 50 percent in 2015 to $111 million. “Rubik’s resurgence is surprising considering that is a 36-year old brand in a category dominated by online gaming,” explains Lederer. “Based on some informal discussions with distributors, we believe it is likely that end-buyers in their 40s and 50s who grew up with Rubik’s are making the buying decisions and are responsible for driving our Rubik’s sales.”
More than 400 million Rubik’s Cubes have been sold since the puzzle was introduced to the retail market in 1980, the same year Prime Line® was founded. The Rubik’s Cube was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2014. In addition to stock and custom Rubik’s Cubes, Prime offers other Rubik’s items including a power bank, flashlight, key chain, stress reliever, and more.
Microsoft to acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 billion
Microsoft announed yesterday that it plans to acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. Microsoft’s deal to acquire the work-focused social networking giant is an all-cash transaction, and it will value LinkedIn’s shares at $196 each. Microsoft says LinkedIn will retain its own brand and independence, and existing CEO Jeff Weiner will remain and report directly to Satya Nadella.
"The LinkedIn team has grown a fantastic business centered on connecting the world’s professionals," Nadella said. "Together we can accelerate the growth of LinkedIn, as well as Microsoft Office 365 and Dynamics as we seek to empower every person and organization on the planet." Microsoft is planning to close its acquisition later this year, and the deal has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
alphabroder Closing IL Warehouse
alphabroder is planning to close the Bodek & Rhodes warehouse in Niles, IL and eliminate all 92 jobs there.Layoffs at the warehouse at 2121 W. Chicago Road will start at the beginning of August and continue on a rolling basis until the end of September. Three of the workers at the site are full-time employees, while the other 89 are part-time, temporary employees.
PPAI Announces 2017 Board Officers
Promotional Products Association International announced the 2017 PPAI Board of Directors officers: Mary Jo Tomasini, MAS, chair; Dale Denham, MAS+; chair-elect, Brittany David, CAS, vice chair, financial services; and Tom Goos, MAS, immediate past chair. The new board officers will begin their one-year terms immediately following The PPAI Expo 2017.
Paul Bellantone, CAE, president and CEO of PPAI, said, “The 2017 board officers have been instrumental in helping position the Association for growth and achieve success. Their commitment at this level supports the Association’s culture of providing superior member value, and their strategic vision will be essential as we continue to invest in the growth of the organization and member success.”
“PPAI is extremely fortunate to have the caliber of experienced leaders and deeply committed volunteers it has, who are so willing to give of their time and talents to the Board, and even more so when they aspire to the Board’s most time-consuming, challenging and important leadership roles,” says Rick Brenner, MAS+, immediate past board chair and chair of the board officer nominating committee.
PPAI board officers are selected by the PPAI Board Officer Nominating Committee and voted on by the PPAI board.
Charles River: Family Business Finalist
Charles River Apparel has been named as a finalist in the 10th annual Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Awards. The Northeastern University Center for Family Business runs the awards program to celebrate top family businesses across the state. The winners will be announced at an evening reception to be held on June 15.
Recipients of the Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Awards are selected by a panel of independent judges based on the following criteria: business success, positive business and family linkages, multi-generational family involvement, contributions to the community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies.