Wegmans Bags Found With High Lead Levels
An east coast grocery chain announced that it will stop selling reusable shopping bags that were found to have elevated levels of lead. A pair of bags from Wegmans supermarkets – the "green pea" and "holiday 2009" designs – will be replaced by the company if consumers want an exchange, though the grocery chain stressed this wasn't a product recall and that the bags could continue to be used safely. "This is not a food safety or children's health concern. Disposal is the only concern," reads a notice on the company's website, adding that Wegmans will take care of proper disposal.

The independent testing, conducted by Rochesterians Against the Misuse of Pesticides, found 799 parts per million of lead in the green pea design, according to Bloomberg. In New York, lead limits can only go as high as 100 parts per million. According to Rochesterians President Judy Braiman, the lead was found in the green paint of the Chinese-made bags. "The message to other companies is lead may be in their products," Braiman said. "They should be doing their own testing now."

Based in Rochester, NY, Wegmans has 76 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Over 725,000 bags with the two designs have been sold. The state of New York is one of 19 states with laws regarding toxic metals in packaging (including lead, cadmium, mercury and more), but Wegmans considers the bag a consumer good and not packaging. Likewise, the company states the bags should not be considered children's products, which fall under the regulation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Nevertheless, the company says it will post notices in its stores to notify customers.

"We are not saying that Wegmans is selling a product that is going to poison anyone," Braiman said, "but we don't need additional lead coming into our country from China."

Image Award Ribbons Acquires MelRose Ribbons
Image Award Ribbons (asi/62195) announced yesterday it has completed its acquisition of MelRose Ribbons (asi/70525). No financial details were revealed. "We are excited to announce an agreement with MelRose Ribbons," said Image Award President Rick Hodges. "I am confident this move puts Image in a position for continued growth and profitability." 

According to Jessica Willis, Image's trade show specialist and marketing manager, the supplier does about $10 million a year in sales and has over 160 employees. The company now expects to bring over about 200-plus distributors that did business with MelRose, which was based in Fresno, CA. "The plan was to get a bigger foothold with customers in the West Coast," Willis says. "Obviously we intend to keep as many of MelRose's customers as possible. Given that our product lines are so similar, we see no reason why this wouldn't happen."

Radio Show: Special Prize Giveaway Episode
Every Tuesday morning from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET, a team of ASI editors debate the most important topics facing the industry. We also, of course, offer our own off-beat look at the market. During our special prize giveaway show this morning, we awarded prizes such as a digital camera, netbook computer and Roomba vacuum cleaner to lucky callers. Plus, we discussed why straightforward salespeople get more business and we shared strategies for creating a great online video.    

If you missed the show, a recording is now available at www.asicentral.com/radio. And, don't forget to join us for our next broadcast on Tuesday, September 21. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 a.m. ET to listen to the show – and give us a call at (215) 953-4979 to hear your voice on the air.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Celebrates 25 Years
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month turns 25 next month, promotional products are increasingly in the spotlight for many promotions and drives. Besides the ubiquitous pink ribbons that remind wearers of the cause, there are a range of other ways tangible products can help get the message out. T-shirts continue to be a popular product for hospitals and organizations promoting breast cancer awareness. Diana Haake, owner of Promotional Product Partners, created several hundred shirts for a breast cancer awareness event last year. "It brought in students from several local high schools for an all-day event, and they received the shirt for participating," she says. "It was very well received."
           
Another distributor, Win Oppel, president of Ad-Merica (asi/107275), recently created breast cancer awareness umbrellas for a client. He has also worked with St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation in Connecticut on developing a set of ornaments, featuring a logo designed by a volunteer at the foundation and her niece. Every year they create a new ornament featuring the logo, and the ornaments are available for purchase and given to volunteers and donors, as well as doctors and nurses at the hospital. This year will be the ninth time they have collaborated on the promotion. "To do these longevity programs, the client has to know that it will take a couple years to get some traction, and now they have people asking, ‘What's the next ornament?'" says Oppel. "It's a message mover, and it makes people think about what that ornament means."
           
While events and charity walks are often the most visible cause marketing platforms, promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month can be done through even more low-key ways. Distributor firm Lasting Impressions (asi/249926) has worked with clients on a large variety of campaigns, from traditional t-shirts and ribbons for a big event, to pink polo shirts or highlighters to pass out in the office. Angela Dabiero, marketing coordinator for Lasting Impressions, believes that branding these products has a positive impact for the cause and the brands that associate themselves with it. "Whenever you take a branded name—whether Kroger or Home Depot—and add that to the ribbon or product, it enhances the message by saying ‘these people support the cause,'" says Dabiero. "Others are going to want to get on board."

The Joe Show: The Latest & Greatest
In this episode of The Joe Show, Counselor Managing Editor Joe Haley shows off some of the newest items to hit the ad specialty market. Looking for hot, new ideas to show off to clients? Check out these items.   

Click here to see this new-products edition of The Joe Show.

Want more videos? Subscribe now to our YouTube videos.

Counselor Unveils 2010 Best Places To Work
One of the most anticipated lists in the industry is now live. Counselor's Best Places to Work, the ranking of industry companies that were judged by their own employees as the best companies to work for, can now be found on our website and a special new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BestPlacestoWork.

Click here now to view the full list of 75 companies, and to read a profile of the number-one Best Place to Work: Dacasso (asi/48125), the Gainesville, FL-based supplier.

And, make sure to join the Counselor Best Places to Work community by going to www.facebook.com/BestPlacestoWork. Add your own thoughts to the conversation about what makes a great workplace. Right now, we've asked people for their stories and pictures from their favorite corporate summer outing this year. Join us now to show the industry why your company had the coolest outdoor event this summer.

Nominate The Supplier Global Resource Sales Rep Of The Year
Supplier Global Resource, the industry's only magazine dedicated to ad specialty suppliers, is holding its inaugural Supplier Sales Rep of the Year contest to recognize outstanding performance, exemplary service and top-notch professionalism.

Do you work with a supplier sales rep who has gone above and beyond for you this year? Do you have a supplier partner who always puts you and your customers' needs first and has a "do whatever it takes" attitude to make you shine?

If you know a perfect contender, e-mail the nominee's name and details regarding what makes him or her award-worthy to Michele Bell, editor of Supplier Global Resource, at mbell@asicentral.com by September 15, 2010. The winner will be profiled in ASI's magazines, receive an array of awesome prizes and get to bask in his or her own fabulousness for the year.

Voting Opens For ASI Advisory Boards
Elections for the 2011 ASI Advisory Boards are now open. Be sure to take a minute to review the nominees and cast your vote to help make a difference in our industry! Current board members can be viewed at http://asiadvisory.blogspot.com/

The ASI Advisory Boards, developed in 2010, cover four distinctive subjects: Technology & Operations, Marketing & Research, Safety & Legislation, and General Industry Issues. They keep an eyeful watch on matters that affect our industry and the way we do business. Board members share thoughts and ideas to develop solutions to ensure the success of advertising specialty companies.

Click here to review the slate and place your vote for those you believe will best represent the industry to ensure the success of all industry participants. Only votes from active ASI member employees are allowed. Voting closes on September 30, with the election results being announced at the 2010 ASI Power Summit in early November.

In The News
Buzline (asi/42963) has incorporated Technologo into itsnewly improved website, giving distributors the ability to instantly create virtual samples for their clients.

Cooler Graphics (asi/80345) has added 5,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its facilities and has installed additional sublimation imprinting equipment.

DLX Industries (asi/4800) has announced that it is the exclusive supplier for the Slimboard line that includes portable writing surface products.

Leed's (asi/66887) has announced that in addition to its existing EcoSmart agreement with American Forests in which one tree is planted for each EcoSmart­ imprint order, it will donate 10% of the sales revenue collected from its Green Grass Collection. Through the second quarter of this year, Leed's has donated a total of $13,022 to American Forests.

Natural Trends (asi/73497) has selected McDonald Marketing Group for sales representation in the Southeast including KY, TN, MS, AL, FL, GA, WV, SC, NC and PR. 

Newton Manufacturing (asi/283300) served 300 "Walking Dogs," a hot dog snack with a "leash" lanyard and a paw-shape clip, during the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Thanks With Franks event.

Office Beacon LLC has been ranked number 1,011 on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing companies.

Promotional Professionals Pay It Forward Day (PromoProsPIFDay) has been set for November 6, 2010, and the Design A Logo Contest is accepting submissions until September 17. Submissions will be judged on creativity, incorporation of mission and ability to be used digitally as well as for decoration on promotional products. Contact promoprospifday@gmail.com for more information.

Superex (asi/90231) announced that Exoset Inc. has been appointed as the supplier's Quebec multiline representative.

People On The Move
Awardcraft (asi/37650) and Visions Awards (asi/93986) have announced the promotion of Les Dorfman to vice president of sales for North America from vice president of sales for the Western United States. Les has named Rick Carlson as regional sales manager for the Midwest states including MN, WI, IL, OH, IN, MI, ND SD, IA, KY and NE.

Starline (asi/89213) has hired Kim Reinecker as regional sales manager for the Southwest states.

ASI SHOW

ATTEND THE ADVANTAGES ROADSHOW NEXT WEEK
The industry's #1 traveling show, the ASI Advantages Roadshow, is visiting the West Coast in just over a week (Van Nuys, Sept. 20; Ontario, Sept. 21; Newport Beach, Sept. 22; San Diego, Sept 23 and Phoenix, Sept. 24). All distributors are invited to attend for FREE!

Delivering a productive, one-on-one atmosphere for distributors to meet with top suppliers, the Advantages Roadshow features free education from 8 a.m.-9 a.m., 9:30 a.m.-10:30 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. No pre-registration is required.

HAVE YOU ORDERED YOUR FREE GALA TICKET?
ASI distributor and decorator members who register by October 1 for ASI Orlando (Jan. 23-25) can order a free ticket to the brand-new Gala Celebration at Universal's hot attraction, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. 

With an action-packed, three-day lineup of amazing events, including a dynamic free Keynote by actor and activist Michael J. Fox (co-sponsored by Evans Mfg., asi/52840, and Showdown Displays, asi/87188), you won't want to miss the industry's largest event on the East Coast.

Plan to see hundreds of leading suppliers, participate in the industry's most-comprehensive education conference and enjoy networking 24/7 when you attend ASI Orlando. Register today at www.asishow.com and enjoy free admission, a free Gala ticket and a free hotel room!*

*ASI distributor/decorator member benefits only. Visit www.asishow.com for details. 
HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment. Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR

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

The following are the dates and locations for The ASI Show in 2010 and 2011:
ASI Holiday Preview in Las Vegas, September 13-14, 2010
Orlando, January 23-25, 2011
Dallas, February 16-18, 2011
New York, March 22-24, 2011
San Diego, May 18-20, 2011
Chicago, July 19-21, 2011

Plus, don't miss the ASI Advantages Roadshow, the industry's #1 traveling show. Visit www.advantagesroadshow.com for the complete schedule and go to www.asishow.com for information on all ASI Shows.