: Top industry news (December issue)

INDUSTRY NEWS:

SERGIO MUNOZ NAMED RECIPIENT OF 2024 ROBERT L. SCOTT AWARD

The Robert L. Scott Memorial Award will be presented to Sergio Munoz, Imprint Canada announced today. Sergio will be presented with the award at the National Imprint Canada Show, January 12 & 13, 2024 at the Toronto Congress Centre,

This prestigious award is presented annually by Imprint Canada, to the individual (at the supplier level) who best displays unparalleled commitment, integrity and enthusiasm for the Canadian Imprintable & Promotional Products Industry. Sergio was voted by a panel of industry peers to be the 26th recipient of this exclusive honour, for his outstanding work as Vice President of Business Development while at Debco. Sergio was announced November 23 as the new Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Add Impact Inc.

"Sergio is an incredibly deserving winner who has led a new generation of suppliers to embrace the modern practices of marketing," said Tony Muccilli, publisher of Imprint Canada magazine and manager of the Imprint Canada Shows. "From his entertaining social media presence, to his outstanding reputation for service to clients, Sergio Munoz is a name that has been nominated more and more for this award in recent years, and it is a coincidental but absolutely fitting cap to his time at the supplier level, that his contributions receive this well-deserved recognition."

Please click here for the full story and to see the full Robert L. Scott Memorial Award recipient list.

RB DIGITAL AWARDING $40,000 SCREEN PRINT SHOP PRIZE

AT NATIONAL IMPRINT CANADA SHOW!

Think you're Canada's best screen printer? RB Digital is giving you the chance to prove it, and you can win a screen print shop prize valued at over $40,000!

RB Digital is searching for Canada’s greatest screen printer and will be announcing the winner at the 2024 National Imprint Canada Show!

Register for the Show by clicking here and enter Promo Code RB-BEST . If you have already registered, skip to step #2.
Send your most creative and best screen printed shirt to RB Digital by January 7th to qualify. Note: your shirt MUST be created with RB Digital products, such as Monarch, Matsui, Wilflex, Avient ink or Isacord thread.
You are encouraged to use of special effects like metallic, 3D puff, glow-in-the-dark, suede or whatever other creative ideas you can come up with! Mixed media is also an option if you’d like to include some embroidery in the design.
Shirts must be received by January 7 at RB Digital's Mississauga location: 6325 Dixie Road, Unit #7, Mississauga, ON L5T 2E5. Within the package, include a note that’s titled “RB Digital Greatest Screen Printer Contest” and include your name, your company name, company address, and the brand of ink you used.

Contest is open to any RB Digital customer across Canada. Winner will be chosen by attendees at the National Imprint Canada Show, and winner will be announced at the Show, Saturday January 13th.

In other RB Digital news, the company will be featuring the Helix® ONE at the National Imprint Canada Show.

The Helix® ONE benchtop cylindrical printer utilizes patented Helix® technology for a compact benchtop design. The Helix® ONE is a dedicated cylinder printing machine designed to decorate straight walled and tapered cylinders including plastic bottles, stainless tumblers, candle holders and more.

The machine features a motor-driven operation with a fully automatic programmable tooling fixture and height adjust and high-precision, robust linear drive. It boasts 8W segmented software-controlled UV curing unit for optimal curing and its print heads utilize state-of-the-art MEMs head technology with integrated temperature control system and high-definition drop size (3-picoliter).

For more information, click here. Contact RB Digital to request a demo of the Helix® ONE at the Show: marketing@inkcups.com

GILDAN ACTIVEWEAR ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGES

VINCE TYRA TO REPLACE GLENN CHAMANDY AS PRESIDENT AND CEO

Gildan Activewear Inc. announced December 11 that Glenn J. Chamandy has left his position as President and Chief Executive Officer and director. Vince Tyra has been appointed President and CEO, effective February 12, 2024. Craig A. Leavitt, a director of the Company since 2018, will serve as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer until Mr. Tyra assumes his new position.

“The Board is confident that Vince is the right person to lead the Company into the next stage of its evolution and growth,” said Donald C. Berg, Chairman of the Board.

“Over the span of his 40 year career, Glenn has been a forerunner in our industry, taking Gildan from a small family-owned business to a leading apparel company with over US$3 billion in revenues” said Berg. “We thank Glenn for his service and wish him well.”

Full story here.

KATE PLUMMER NAMED DIRECTOR OF SALES FOR

DEBCO & BEACON PROMOTIONS

Kate Plummer was named director of sales for Ontario-based Debco and Minnesota-based Beacon Promotions – both subsidiaries of Massachusetts-headquartered HPG. Plummer began her tenure with HPG December 11.

Plummer said she had long admired HPG’s growth and creativity. “The Debco and Beacon teams have set such a high bar with their award-winning customer service and I’m looking forward to being part of their continuing success.”

The promotional products industry is near and dear to Plummer, as her her parents founded Scarborough, ON-based supplier Clearmount, where she worked for more than 16 years, most recently as vice president of sales and marketing. Clearmount was acquired by St Regis Group last year.

For more, click here.

ECORITE ANNOUNCES ENVIRONMENTAL GIVEBACK PROGRAM

Ecorite, a division of Canada Sportswear, is building on its commitment to the environment by designating a portion of sales each year to Conservation International, commencing January 1.

“We are pleased and excited to announce our decision to share in our good fortunes with Conservation International and to designate a portion of our sales proceeds each year to support their vital conservation work,” said Alex Jovetic, vice president of sales and marketing at Ecorite.

Conservation International is a nonprofit that’s been around since 1987, with a mission to conserve important ecosystems and address climate change through science, partnerships and fieldwork.

TWIGA SOLUTIONS BRINGS ZSK RACER-R TO CANADA FOR FIRST TIME, DEBUTING AT TORONTO SHOW

Twiga Solutions will be unveiling the Racer R embroidery machine at the National Imprint Canada Show, boasting speeds up to 2,020 rpm, in models from 1-4 heads.

The Racer-R will be complemented by new decorating solutions, such as automated Patch systems, ZSK Chenille, Coloreel, Italian DTF and Digisceen hybrid, which will also be on exhibit.

See these systems in action at National Imprint Canada Show booths 901-911 & 1000-1010.

Additional details available at Twiga-Solutions.com

CSI REBRANDS TO BRING ALL BRANDS UNDER ONE BANNER

CSI, a Canadian promotional industry supplier for over four decades, is rebranding to The CSI Group, to encompass each of its 10 signature brands, including Simplex, Canadian Spirit, Ad Spec and The Initials Co.

The CSI Group will unveil its new branding as well as a new customizable luggage line, Top Gluv gifts, and more at the National Imprint Canada Show, January 12 & 13, 2024, in booths 228 & 230.

Visit TheCSIGroup.net for more information.

KOOZIE AND IMAGEN BRANDS TO COMBINE UNDER KOOZIE GROUP

Koozie has announced that it will merge with Imagen Brands – which it acquired in 2020 – effective January 1, 2024.

Koozie Group will “implement best practices from each company, leveraging each other’s strengths to create a shared roadmap that lays out the route to deliver the most impactful products and best-in-class service offerings for our customers,” the company said in a statement.

The company says the move will provide numerous benefits, including:

Increased sales and service support with improved response times and one-call resolution.
Easier order management via the Koozie Group Tracker™.
Combined White Glove Concierge Service for orders above $10,000.
More products available with 48-hour standard service.
Expansion of full-color offerings, as well as our sustainable, exclusive, and USA-made items.
Enhanced website experience, including online chat.
Additional free services, including free 24-hour service on over 450 items.

ST REGIS PARTNERS WITH RIEDEL

St Regis Group, a Markham, ON-based supplier, has inked a deal with wine glass brand RIEDEL. Under this new partnership, St Regis will offer select RIEDEL glasses and decanters to distributor customers in Canada and the U.S.

“RIEDEL has long been synonymous with the pinnacle of wine glass craftsmanship,” said Merrick Falkenstein, chief revenue officer of St Regis Group. “Their commitment to perfection aligns seamlessly with our dedication to providing the finest stemware, making RIEDEL’s wine glasses and decanters a seamless fit into our line.”

GENUMARK TO RETIRE RIGHTSLEEVE; INTEGRATE COMPANY UNDER GENUMARK BRAND

Genumark, which acquired Rightsleeve in 2019 and continues to operate it separately, will be retired to be integrated under the Genumark brand.

“Integrating Rightsleeve under the Genumark brand symbolizes not only the growth and evolution of our company, but also our commitment to providing top-notch service and innovative solutions to our clients, said Stephen Musgrave, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “We are thrilled to start 2024 with a renewed energy and focus, all while maintaining the core values and services our clients have come to trust.”

COMMONSKU ANNOUNCES BRAND REFRESH

commonsku, a Toronto-based promotional products business and sales software, launched a fresh new brand intended to reflect changing times and bold new direction.

commonsku’s logo and main character, skubot, have been reimagined with a more contemporary, geometric design, enhancing visibility and impact. The color system and typography have been refined, and the brand’s barcode—a nod to the multifaceted products in our industry—remains at the core of the design.

“We wanted to create a brand that reflects both the maturity of our experience, yet still contains the heart of our bold, start-up energy," said Kate Masewich, vice president of marketing.

ALBERTA’S BRANDS MARKETING INC. FAST-GROWING IN 2023, ACCORDING TO P&PM

The 2023 Print & Promo Marketing Top Distributors’ list recognized Stony Plain’s Brands Marketing Inc. as the fastest-growing among distributors that submitted their sales information to P&PM, reporting 164.9% year-over-year revenue growth from 2021 to 2022.

Other big news came from the top two distributors, 4imprint and HALO, respectively, topping the $1 billion mark with HALO reporting 22% growth to hit $1,007,000,000. 4imprint stood at the top after spending last year in third place, with just over $1.1 billion in revenue, thanks to 44% year-over-year growth.

Number three-ranked Proforma, cleared the $600 million mark, while others like BDA and American Solutions for Business hovered around that half-billion milestone.

DREAMCATCHER PROMOTIONS WINS IBEP VIBE AWARD

Dreamcatcher Promotions of Winnipeg, MB was a winner at the 17th annual Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) Awards, hosted by the Asper School of Business Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP). Each year this event celebrates the achievements of Indigenous businesses in Manitoba.

Dreamcatcher Embroidery was founded in 2011 by Michelle Cameron as a home-based business, which evolved into Dreamcatcher Promotions in 2013 to reflect their expanding services. Today, with a team of 56 staff members operating out of Swan Lake First Nation Urban Reserve, the company supplies promotional products and apparel to organizations nationwide and holds the distinction of being the largest Indigenous-owned promotions company in Canada.