SAAGNY News

USPS Proposes Changes To Marketing Mail Requirements  The United States Postal Service (USPS) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding new mailing limitations for marketing mail. The proposed change would limit marketing mail to content that is paper-based or printed matter. No products of any type would be allowed, regardless of the item's value. If approved, this new rule would eliminate magnets, buttons and a variety of other items often included in marketing mailers. Any object that cannot be sent as a letter size or flat piece would not qualify for mailing via USPS marketing mail and sending would require using another method such as Parcel Select or Priority Mail. A wide variety of organizations including small businesses and nonprofits would be deeply harmed by this proposed limitation to the USPS mailing standards. Please reach out to the USPS manager for product classification at ProductClassification@usps.gov , and use the subject line "USPS Marketing Mail Content Eligibility" to share your concerns about this proposed rule. To use a pre-written letter via the PPAI Law website, please click here.

If Price Increases of 25% or more will hurt your business, tell them about it.

PPAI has joined 21 other trade associations to participate in the public commenting period related to the Section 301 tariff proposals. The commenting period expired September 6 and allowed interested parties to respond to the third tranche of import tariffs under the United States Trade Representative's (USTR) Section 301 investigation. The commenting period also requested feedback regarding the proposed rate increase from 10 to 25 percent. The letter noted the U.S. already imposes tariffs on the items outlined in the tariff list, including baseball hats, backpacks and a wide variety of other consumer products. The letter also pointed out how the tariff increases would raise prices for American consumers and threaten U.S. jobs in the process. PPAI is on the record opposing any tariff proposals. Due to the rise in consumer prices that results when tariffs are applied to products, tariffs are effectively a tax on consumers. PPAI LAW has a series of pre-populated letters that can be sent to local members of Congress. Click here to inform your elected officials about the negative impact tariffs would have on the promotional products industry.

Check your email for your copy of the survey to nominate  your favorite SAAGNY members.  For a list of SAAGNY distributor members click here.  For a list of SAAGNY supplier, MLRs, and Business Service members click here.  

Do you know a SAAGNY Rising Star - an up-and-coming professional in the promotional product industry?  These individuals bring new ideas, dedication, and enthusiasm to both their company and the industry.  The Honorees will be recognized by their peers, receive a beautiful award, and a complimentary registration to PPAI SPARK.  Click here to review the requirements and application. 

How about showcasing your creative excellence?  The SAAGNY Diamond Awards were created to recognize and showcase the creative excellence of SAAGNY members.  It is YOUR opportunity to spotlight your best work.  Click here to review the requirements and application.

Do you want to attend a PPAI conference in 2019 - consider applying for the Linda Robinson Leadership Award or the Past Presidents' Continuing Education Award.  It is time to make YOU a priority - click here for the requirements and application. 

Do you know someone who deserves a place in the SAAGNY Hall of Fame?  Take the time to nominate them today.  Click here for requirements and application

Carol Marder, co-founder and chairwoman of Inkwell Global Marketing, passed away on August 22. She was 76.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Carol co-founded the company in 1983. Her son Steven Marder is the president and CEO.

Carol is survived by her husband Ed, son Steven and daughters Elisa Cohen and Susan Harris.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at www.bcrf.org.

SAAGNY and PAPPA will be hosting a local Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.) on Monday, December 17 in Trenton, where the message of the promotional products industry will be taken to state legislators. During this one-day event, PPAI staff will join with members of SAAGNY and PAPPA to speak with state legislators and educate them on New Jersey’s promotional products industry.

L.E.A.D. Local is part of PPAI’s state-level legislative outreach efforts and delivers the promotional products industry’s message to state legislators. It is conducted alongside PPAI’s federal-level outreach and engagement with legislators, government agencies and regulatory groups, and the annual L.E.A.D. in Washington, D.C.

IF you are interested in being a part of L.E.A.D. local on Monday, December 17, please reach out to Donna-Jean at donna-jean@saagny.org or (914) 848-7369 or Michele Jennrich at mjennrich@verizon.net or (201) 213-3941.

Congratulations Tim Howe, Spectrum Designs, for being named a PPB 2018 Rising Star!

Tim and nineteen other PPB 2018 Rising Stars were recognized at the opening dinner of the PPAI North American Leadership Conference at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C. 

“There’s no better indication of our industry’s bright future than the bold attitudes and ambition of these inspiring individuals,” said PPB Editor Tina Berres Filipski, in her opening remarks about this year’s honorees.

PPB’s Rising Stars is an annual recognition program that has sought out and spotlighted the industry’s young up-and-coming individuals since 2010. Those selected this year were among nearly 90 nominees recommended by their bosses, coworkers, clients or suppliers.

Tim Howe also was the recipient of the SAAGNY 2018 Rising Star Award. 

Tim also was one of nine industry professionals that earned their Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS) designations this past July . Tim joins an elite group of individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to the promotional products industry and to continuing their education.

The full article about PPB Rising Stars can be reached by clicking here. 

SAAGNY has partnered with the New York Jets in a "Corporate Huddle" to offer discounted tickets to our membership.  

Another great SAAGNY member benefit!  

Please visit jetsgroups.com/saagny to see the great offers on tickets for the 2018-2019 season.  Go Jets!

The August SAAGNY Life has arrived.  Click here to get the latest from SAAGNY.     

                                                                                                                             

Dear Member:

The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) has grown to be the largest regional Promotional Products association in the country. Our growth would not have been possible without the visionary planning and untiring efforts of a few outstanding leaders.

The SAAGNY Hall of Fame recognizes the extraordinary achievements of these leaders who have contributed to our success. This is your opportunity to help choose the next recipient of this prestigious honor. When making your selection, please keep in mind the following criteria:

1. SAAGNY Pioneers

        SAAGNY Pioneers are defined as individuals previously employed by member companies who are no longer active in our region or business and served AMASS or SAAGNY prior to 1989.

1. SAAGNY Contemporaries

        SAAGNY Contemporaries are defined as current or past members who have had service to SAAGNY and the industry since 1989.

·        The nominee shall have made significant and lasting contributions to SAAGNY and the Promotional Products industry and have served on a committee or on the Board of Directors of SAAGNY.

·        The nominee has not served on the SAAGNY Board of Directors for a minimum of three (3) years before induction into the Hall of Fame.

·        Continues to serve on the Board of Directors but has an aggregate of 10 years’ volunteer service to SAAGNY as a committee or board member prior to nomination to the Hall of Fame

·        Members of the Hall of Fame Committee are not eligible for nomination.

The Hall of Fame Committee will review all nominations and determine which category the nominee qualifies for.  Please return the nomination form and required items no later than Friday, September 14, 2018.  If you have been nominated in the past, annual re-nomination is now required.  In addition, if you are the nominee, nominator, or the author of a recommendation letter for a nominee you cannot serve on the committee.  If you have any questions, please call the SAAGNY office or email Donna-Jean Plante (donna-jean@saagny.org).  Please click here for the nomination form and rules and regulations.

Thank you for your participation.

Yours,

Jonathan

Jonathan Riegel, MAS
Hall of Fame Selection Committee Chair

SPARK, PPAI’s conference for young professionals in the promotional products industry, improved on its inaugural success this year. Held on July 19-20 at several venues in Nashville, Tennessee, SPARK delivered education and networking opportunities for 80 practitioners who are at the beginning stages of their careers in the promotional products industry.

“This year is different,” says Kalie Herron, Augusta Sportswear Brands/Boxercraft multi-line rep, and SPARK work group chair. “With 33 attendees who are second-timers, there’s an idea of how it’s supposed to be, and how we’re supposed to grow and build from here. We’ve brought in speakers and education sessions that take it to the next level. SPARK gives people new to the industry an education on what it’s about, taking those next steps to become a better leader or employee, and how to take that leadership role forward.”

Delivering a unique take on education in the industry, SPARK moved through different locations throughout the host city, giving attendees a feel for Nashville, showcasing presentations in fresh environments and creating opportunities to network and collaborate.

“SPARK has been a really great experience,” says Rayan Horak, owner of distributor Pivot Communications Group and a first-time attendee. “I appreciate the opportunity to connect with other people in the industry with similar interests, [and enjoyed] the interactive sessions and the format of the event itself. Everyone is so collaborative and cooperative, and we all want the best for us and the industry. There’s a huge passion that’s great to be a part of. What I’m going to take from this are the relationships and connections, and reaching out to that network because we’re all in it together.”

The conference’s programming focused on creating an educational event that has a positive impact on attendees, getting them to think creatively and helping them network and learn from their peers. This year’s conference featured more than 15 speakers over its two-day run.

“I have been in the industry for two and a half years; my first week on the job was at The PPAI Expo in Vegas. It was kind of a trial by fire, but I’m a big believer in that being the best way to learn,” says Mason Linn, central region account executive with Raining Rose and first-time SPARK attendee. “SPARK has been great. It’s been a phenomenal opportunity for me to meet with different people throughout the industry and start building strong relationships. And I’m excited to go home and implement what I’ve learned from the speakers and education sessions.”

He adds, “One of the big things for me, being on the sales side of things, is the importance of communication. [We learned] how to do it properly and things we should be doing going forward. [Saying] ‘yes, and’ instead of ‘but’ is a big one that we’ve talked about, and I think it’s one of the takeaways from SPARK that is really going to help me going forward.”

In thinking about the full SPARK experience, Herron says, “This helps me grow every time. I don’t think I’ve attended a SPARK event and not taken something away I can use in my everyday practice. It’s really given me insights that I didn’t see before, or [helped me to] take a step back and take a better look at the big picture.”

Beyond the SPARK Conference, young industry professionals can stay involved by connecting on the SPARK Promo Connect page throughout the year, and planning to attend the SPARK After Dark networking reception at the PPAI Expo in January.