Distributor News

Twelve Distributors Affiliate with iPROMOTEu in June 2011
July 15, 2011

iPROMOTEu, Wayland, Mass., announced today that 12 promotional products distributors have affiliated with iPROMOTEu in June 2011. These new affiliates, in the aggregate, have an estimated annual sales volume of over $2,000,000. 

A Tool to Help Business Owners Struggling With Social Media
July 14, 2011

Carolyn Betts is more knowledgeable about social networking than the average small-business owner. Back in 2004, when she had just started working for an executive recruiting firm, she saw how her sister in college was spending a lot of time on this student-focused site called Facebook and immediately started using it to reach out to sharp graduates to fill junior-level positions. She soon became a relatively early user of LinkedIn and Twitter, using them to expand her online presence.

Ten Legal Pitfalls Startups Should Avoid
July 14, 2011

The etymology of the word "entrepreneur" is well established. Since the earliest of French times, it has meant "someone who breaks into hives when coming within 20 feet of a lawyer."

While I'm joking regarding the word's origins, I'm quite serious (albeit figurative) regarding the entrepreneurial response to lawyers. Most young entrepreneurs see themselves as an unrivaled visionary and the last thing they need is some old dude in a three-piece pulling on the handbrake.

Until something else does.

NEPPA Changes Spring Expo Venue After 28 Years
July 13, 2011

After 28 years in Sturbridge, Mass., the New England Promotional Products Association (NEPPA) annual Spring Expo is moving to Mohegan Sun, a destination resort casino and conference center in Uncasville, Conn.

Proforma Opens 11 New Offices in June
July 13, 2011

Cleveland-based Proforma, a leading North American provider of graphic communications solutions, is pleased to welcome 11 new offices to its network.

5 Tips for Selling B2B
July 13, 2011

Selling business to business (B2B) requires a different mindset that selling to consumers. Yet, many business owners don't know how to customize their sales approach to a business customer.

Mike Whitney, chief learning officer at The Morris Group Inc., an industrial B2B sales company, has 45 years of experience in B2B industrial sales. He gives us advice on what mistakes B2B sales people must learn to avoid.

How to Build a Successful Company Culture
July 13, 2011

There are two key aspects to building a successful company culture. The first is creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere where your employees love coming to work each day. The second is creating an environment where your employees collaborate with each other, are challenged to work hard and improve, and are accountable to themselves and the team on a daily basis.

Here are three key building blocks we used that are easy to implement without having to invest time or money in training.

WorkflowOne Names Tim Tatman Chief Executive Officer
July 12, 2011

WorkflowOne, Dayton, Ohio, a leading provider of print management, marketing and distribution services, today announced that Tim Tatman, formerly senior vice president of strategic accounts, has been promoted to the position of CEO of WorkflowOne LLC, effective immediately.

10 Ways Wholesalers Can Optimize Their Tweets
July 12, 2011

According to the latest Pew Research Center Report on Social Networking, 13 percent of online adults use Twitter, representing a significant increase from the 8 percent of adult users in November 2010. The number of people using Twitter in the 25-34 and 55-64 age groups has doubled since then. Many wholesalers and general merchandise vendors are using Twitter for marketing and branding.

While the Pew statistics are impressive, the report doesn't talk about the fact that Twitter is poised to become the next big thing in real time search. Therefore, as a wholesaler, it would be wise to optimize your tweets.