Prime Line Acquires Leeman
As first reported yesterday in a Counselor Breaking News Alert, Top 40 supplier Prime Line (asi/79530) has acquired the Leeman New York (asi/66920) product line. No financial terms of the deal have been released. "This is a great opportunity to add a marquee industry brand to the Prime family," says Jeff Lederer, executive vice president of Prime Line. "The quality of the Leeman line is unmatched and the items are outstanding."

Starting February 1, Leeman products will be manufactured at Prime's Bridgeport, CT, facility. During the transition process, all current Leeman e-mail and telephone contacts will remain intact. Prime is advising distributors to continue to place orders through their normal channels, promising no disruption of production or orders during the transition period.

Leeman, a supplier within the ad specialty industry for the last 30 years, manufactures leather and glass products, including portfolios, luggage tags and desk items. "I started the company in 1981 and am so pleased to pass the torch to Prime Line," says Zachary Mankes, founder of Leeman. "Prime and Leeman make a perfect match to expose the Leeman Brand of leather promotional items to a wider distributor audience."

Reporting North American ad specialty sales of $51.1 million in 2008, Prime Line ranks as number 28 on the Counselor Top 40 supplier list.

Galaxy Balloons Acquires Aspen Leaf
Completing its second deal in three months, Galaxy Balloons Inc. (asi/55675) has acquired Tennessee-based Aspen Leaf Printing (asi/37140). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In November, Galaxy Balloons purchased the assets of AGA Balloons (asi/30119), which has remained in the industry as a manufacturer of memo pads, mugs and computer accessories. "After the AGA deal, I got a call from Aspen Leaf asking if we'd be interested in acquiring them," says Terry Brizz, president of Galaxy Balloons. "We were able to get a deal done pretty quickly and have it ready to announce for the start of the year."

Having built up a successful company that was founded in 1967, the owners of Aspen Leaf had been looking to downsize their operation. "We are getting ready to retire," says Larry Gunderson, president of Aspen Leaf. "Galaxy Balloons is an excellent company. We feel confident that they will continue to offer the same high-quality products and service that we have striven to maintain throughout the years."

As part of the transition, Aspen Leaf's production will be relocated from Caryville, TN, to Galaxy Balloons' 100,000-square-foot facility in Cleveland, OH. "It makes sense for us to do this deal because we have the infrastructure to take on more," says Brizz. "We have the capacity to print two million balloons in a week."

Tuesday Morning Radio Show Live On The Air
Every Tuesday morning from 10:30 a.m. eastern time to 11 a.m., a team of ASI editors debates the most important topics facing the industry. We also, of course, offer our own off-beat look at the market. This morning, we discussed why employees need a pick-me-up right now, shared some executive challenges for 2010 and offered tips from education sessions during last week's ASI Show Orlando. Plus, we took calls from audience members looking for ideas on how to boost their business.

If you missed the show, don't worry. A recording is now available at www.asicentral.com/radio. And, don't forget to join us next Tuesday, January 19, for our next broadcast. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 a.m. eastern time and give us a call at (215) 953-4979. We want to hear from you!

PrintGlobe Acquires Absorbent Ink
PrintGlobe Inc. has announced that it has purchased the assets of Absorbent Ink (asi/295819), which was named by Counselor as one of 2009's top 10 fastest-growing distributors in the ad specialty industry. "The histories of our two companies are very similar," Dan Steinbourn, president and CEO of PrintGlobe, told Counselor. "We were both locally oriented branding firms. We both have a lot of experience doing face-to-face branding consultations, and really understanding the level at which customers need service and personalization."

Based in Austin, TX, PrintGlobe approached Absorbent Ink in early October and completed a deal by mid-December, beating out several other firms, according to Steinbourn. The financial terms of the acquisition were not released. "We've always been impressed with Absorbent Ink," Steinbourn says. "So when we learned that they closed their doors, we got in touch with them to discuss ways to work together. And what we arrived at was the more we looked, the better it looked, and the more excited we were."

PrintGlobe will retain the Absorbent Ink name and online portal as an independent brand. "There's still a lot of brand equity with Absorbent Ink, a very long history, a lot of clients who know and love Absorbent Ink, so we didn't really believe that it made sense to diminish their brand and value," says Steinbourn. The Absorbent Ink brand will be run from PrintGlobe's offices; two Absorbent Ink employees, including President Lee Eldridge, will stay on with the company. Adds Steinbourn: "Lee is going to be heavily involved in the Absorbent Ink domain."

Steinbourn says the two companies together have combined revenues of $10 million. He says the brands will overlap in some client markets, and that Absorbent Ink will retain its "exceptionally strong" presence in the corporate gifts market. PrintGlobe was founded by Steinbourn in 2000 and has earned a spot on "The Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America" list the past three years. Absorbent Ink, formerly based out of Lawrence, KS, demonstrated 63% growth between 2006 and 2008 and was twice recognized by Inc. as one of the 500 fastest growing privately held companies in the country. Absorbent Ink is also a former recipient of the Counselor "Best Places to Work" designation.

Former Sanford President Joins Gemline
Counselor Top 40 supplier Gemline (asi/56070) has announced that former Sanford Business-to-Business (asi/84833) President Bob Stoltz will be joining the company as vice president of sales. "Bob is unique in that he is a manager and a leader," Jonathan Isaacson, president of Gemline, told Counselor yesterday. "He is well-respected by the people in his prior organizations, as well as by the distributor community and the supplier community. He has a wealth of experience in the business. We believe he's going to add a lot to Gemline."

Issacson says that Gemline has known Stoltz for many years and always had a great deal of respect for him. Overseeing sales efforts, Isaacson says Stoltz will have "a fairly wide range of responsibilities."

"Gemline is a long-standing premier supplier in the marketplace and I'm very excited to be joining them," says Stoltz, 53. "It's a terrific organization, and a refreshing change for me to be with a company that is focused on and committed to their promotional product marketing exclusively."

Obituary: John Moshay, Chairman Of A4
John Moshay, chairman of the board at apparel supplier A4 (asi/30121), died on January 1 after a long battle with cancer. Moshay was 72. "He was an honest guy who was so unpretentious and approachable," says Mark Mertens, Moshay's business partner and close friend. "He would get to work at 5:30 in the morning every day and greet every single employee. He would recognize every employee by name."

Born in 1936 to Lebanese parents, Moshay founded private-label supplier Robin Hill in 1972. Eventually, Moshay bought out his partners, taking sole ownership of the company and growing it into a leading manufacturer of children's and women's clothing. Later, Moshay's company became the licensee for the brands Hobie and Converse, developing strong revenues in the activewear business. In 1995, Moshay partnered with Mertens, creating the A4 name. "John had such an innate sense of value," Mertens says. "He had it in his gut. He never bought anything that ever went down in value. He had a clear vision."

Heavily involved in charity work, Moshay devoted time and energy to supporting children through various programs and centers, including the Hillsides Organization in Pasadena, CA. Moshay was also an active supporter of the Rags to Riches charity in Las Vegas, NV. In his leisure time, Moshay loved taking care of his cars. Among them was a 1972 Ferrari Daytona. "Cars were his passion," Mertens says.

Moshay is survived by his wife Sandy, his sons John and Michael, as well as four grandchildren. Funeral services for Moshay were held on Wednesday, January 6, at Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon in Beverly Hills, CA. In Moshay's memory, donations may be made to the Hillsides Home for Children in Pasadena (www.hillsides.org).

Do You Have America's Most Creative Sales Team?
For an upcoming feature in Counselor magazine, the editors are looking for distributors that have creative sales teams. Do you brainstorm until all hours of the night, present wild promotional ideas to clients, and generally approach the ad specialty market in a unique and creative way?

Call For Entries: Counselor Product Design Awards
Counselor magazine is looking for innovative products for its Product Design Awards competition. Suppliers are invited to nominate their favorite eye-catching products in the following categories:

In order to enter, please submit the following three items: 1. A sample of the product. (We recommend that the product be exclusive to the supplier that is submitting it, although this is not a requirement.); 2. A quick description of the product, including any special features; 3. The category that the product should be considered for. There is a limit of one submission per category, per company. All submissions will be judged on the following areas: design appeal, functionality and the ability to attractively feature a logo (when appropriate). Winners will be featured in the June issue of Counselor.

Please send all entries to: Karen Akers, Awards Editor, Counselor Magazine, 4800 Street Road, Trevose, PA 19053. Questions? E-mail Karen Akers at kakers@asicentral.com. Please note that only products from North American suppliers will be considered and that submissions will not be returned unless specifically requested.

ASICentral: What's Your Sales Sign, Baby?
If you're having trouble making sales these days, maybe it's not the tough economy but an inability to take advantage of your astrological strong points. That's right! Tauruses, you're dependable and persistent, but can be stubborn. Aries, you're an independent go-getter, but impatient. Find out what traits under your Zodiac sign make you a great salesperson with our neat interactive "Zodiac Sales" feature in this month's Advantagesmag.com. It's in the stars! Check it out now.

Got questions, comments or any type of feedback regarding anything ASICentral, don't hesitate to contact us at feedback@asicentral.com. Also, follow ASICentral at .

In The News
All In One (asi/34256) and Pacific Handy Cutter, Inc. (asi/75650) have announced a new partnership. Per the deal, Pacific Handy Cutter will now focus its operations solely on large volume clients, while All In One will now serve distributors seeking in-stock quantity orders from Handy Cutter.

Arnolds for Awards Inc. (asi/124160) will host a 40th anniversary celebration at its facility on March 25. The open-invitation event will include raffles, food, special offers for future orders and production tours.

BIC Graphic USA (asi/40480) held a company-wide "green day" event for employees on December 8, highlighting the importance of recycling and renewable resources. The event included eco-friendly product giveaways, cell phone recycling and raffle prizes.

Boxercraft (asi/41325) has extended its customer service hours to 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. eastern time. The company has also announced it will provide same-day shipping of all blank orders placed by 4:15 p.m.

Cap America (asi/43792) recently presented a 25-year service appreciation award to multi-line rep firm K.C. Fields and Associates.

Dacasso (asi/48125) has announced that its 2009 fourth quarter sales were up more than 25% compared to 2008. 

Insouth Enterprises (asi/231600) has announced its new phone number is: (305) 445-1900.

Prime Line (asi/79530) has released its 2010 catalog, featuring more than 100 new products as well as additional colors and styles of existing items.

Proforma (asi/300094) is ranked #72 in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list for 2010, a 29-spot improvement compared to 2009.

Single Source (asi/327845) has re-branded with a new logo and tagline. The company will now be called Midwest Single Source. Its Web site can be found at: www.midwestsinglesource.com.

Spector & Co. (asi/88660) has launched its 2010 catalog and a new 48-hour order service. For more information, go to: www.spectorandco.com.

The Brandmarket Inc. (asi/145006) was named the Women's Business Enterprise Council West's supplier of the year for 2009.

The Promotional Products Association of Florida has announced that its membership donated more than $500 to Curing Kids' Cancer Inc.

People On The Move
Cap America (asi/43792) has promoted Liz Tesreau to customer service supervisor. The company has also announced that Lee Pearson and Associates will provide sales representation in the Southeast U.S.

CleggPromo (asi/45450) has added Angela McElroy as an inside account executive for the southern California region.

Independent Graphics Inc. (asi/230897) has announced that Lou Ciampi, Jr. has been named president of the company and Jim Ciampi has been appointed to the position of vice president of marketing and customer service. 

PromoShop (asi/300446) has hired Robin Murav as an account executive in the company's corporate office in Los Angeles.

Schroepfer Wessels Jolesch (asi/235965) has named Ted Case its new president. The ownership of the company is unchanged.

Vispak Inc. (asi/93987) has announced that Majerus Marketing Inc. will provide sales representation in the following areas: GA, FL, NC, SC, TN, MS, AL, VA and Puerto Rico.

ASI SHOW

THE FREE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR ASI DALLAS IS JANUARY 18
The free registration deadline for ASI members for The ASI Dallas Show, the largest show in the Southwest, is next Monday, January 18. Featuring 600 leading suppliers, thousands of new items, more than 55 free education sessions, a free Keynote on social networking and daily networking, The ASI Dallas Show is THE place to kick-start 2010.
 
Register today at www.asishow.com for The ASI Dallas Show. ASI distributor and decorator members can also receive up to $100 toward a hotel room.
 
EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING FOR ASI SAN DIEGO
Both distributors and suppliers are excited about The ASI Show San Diego! Timed in the first quarter (February 24-26), ASI San Diego will deliver the products, services, ideas and strategies you need to launch 2010 with a bang. Featuring leading suppliers (most of the Top 40), cutting-edge education and non-stop networking, ASI San Diego will be a sales-building event like no other.

The three-day, action-packed schedule includes a Gala Celebration at Stingaree Nightclub and a free Keynote by motivational guru Tony Robbins.

Register for ASI San Diego at www.asishow.com. ASI distributor and decorator members enjoy free admission and can receive up to $100 toward a hotel room.

A BRAND-NEW EVENT FOR WOMEN IN THE AD SPECIALTY BUSINESS
Don't miss the ASI Women's Summit taking place May 4, 2010 at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City from noon-3:30 p.m. Designed for women in the advertising specialty industry, the ASI Women's Summit will provide a lively environment to develop new relationships while discussing new business approaches with colleagues. The action-packed afternoon schedule will include a networking reception, luncheon and two Keynotes by real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran and Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach™.

Register at www.asishow.com by March 31 and pay only $149.

THE ASI ADVANTAGES ROADSHOW IS VISITING THE NORTHEAST NEXT WEEK
The industry's #1 traveling show, the ASI Advantages Roadshow, is heading to the Northeast next week (Boston, Jan. 18; Long Island, Jan. 19; New Jersey, Jan. 20; Philadelphia, Jan. 21 and Baltimore, Jan. 22).

Delivering a productive, one-on-one atmosphere for distributors to meet with top suppliers, the Advantages Roadshow features free education (sponsored by Fields Mfg., asi/54100) from 7:45 a.m.-9 a.m. and 1 p.m.-2 p.m. and exhibit hours from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Visit www.advantagesroadshow.com for complete details. All distributors are invited to attend the Advantages Roadshow for free. No pre-registration is required.

Follow The ASI Show on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook today!