Chuck E. Cheese's Promotional Toys Recalled
As first reported yesterday in a Counselor PromoGram Breaking News Alert, child-themed restaurant Chuck E. Cheese's has voluntarily recalled 1.2 million promotional light-up rings and toy eyeglasses. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which issued the recall along with Health Canada, all of the items in question were manufactured in China and directly imported by CEC Entertainment, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese's theme restaurants. "If crushed or pulled apart, the plastic casing can break into small pieces and possibly expose the batteries, posing an ingestion hazard to children," said the CPSC.

The light-up rings, which come in blue, green, purple, yellow and pink, were either sold or distributed during several Parent-Teacher Association conventions between April of 2009 and May of this year. The eyeglasses, which are red and star-shaped, were distributed as part of a birthday promotion package between April of 2009 and August of this year. The CPSC says there have been two incidents reported with the light-up rings: one involved a child swallowing a battery and the other involved a child inserting a battery into his nose. There are no reported incidents or injuries with the recalled glasses. Ultimately, the CPSC warned that the items were recalled because ingesting the button-type batteries could lead to stomach problems, or damage to intestines or a child's esophagus.

Consumers are being asked to take the toys away from children and return them for a refund of cash or prizes. Refund information is available by e-mail at guestrelations@cecentertainment.com or through the restaurant’s website at www.chuckecheese.com. “At Chuck E. Cheese’s our goal is to bring families together in a wholesome environment for food and fun,” the company wrote yesterday in a statement. “We understand that parents place a lot of trust in us to provide safe prize and merchandise products.”

CEC Entertainment, based in Irving, TX, is not an ASI-listed company, and operates the roughly 500 corporately owned and operated Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurants in 48 states and six countries. This is the third time since 2001 that Chuck E. Cheese's has been involved in recalls of children’s toys.

Video Report: Product Safety In Focus
In this episode of Counselor’s Industry Update video, we discuss two high-profile product recalls of items from popular product categories. Plus, will new legislation aimed at jumpstarting small businesses give the economy the jolt it needs? Watch the video now to find out.

Click here to see the trends and to watch Counselor PromoGram’s Industry Update.

If you have any news you’d like to see covered on Industry Update or in Counselor PromoGram, please send it to newsdesk@asicentral.com.

Activist Group Product Testing Leads To Recall
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 mandated recall and that the bags could continue to be used safely. The action came after a consumer group tested the Chinese-manufactured bags and claimed that their lead levels exceeded legal limits. “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 the Empire State Consumer Project, found 799 parts per million of lead in the green pea design, nearly eight times the legal limit in New York, where lead limits can only go as high as 100 parts per million. According to Judy Braiman, president of the Empire State Consumer Project, the lead was found in the green paint of the bags. “The message to other companies is lead may be in their products,” Braiman said. “They should be doing their own testing now.” Braiman’s group purchases products in stores and independently tests them for levels of harmful ingredients such as lead and cadmium.

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 Improvement Act of 2008. 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.”

Podcast: Sales & Marketing Success Strategies
On Tuesday's ASI Internet Radio Show, the hosts discussed why straightforward salespeople end up closing the most deals – hint: your client's time matters. And, we offered tips for how distributors can easily and cheaply create their own online marketing videos. Looking to expand your business with new sales and marketing strategies? Listen to this clip from the show.

Click here to listen to the business-advice segment from Tuesday’s show.

If you’d like to check out a recording of the whole online radio show, go to www.asicentral.com/radio. And, don’t forget to join us next Tuesday, September 21, for our next broadcast. Log on to www.asicentral.com/radio at 10:30 am ET and give us a call at 215-953-4979 or e-mail us at radio@asicentral.com to participate on the show. We want to hear from you.

Obituary: John Vento, Proforma Owner & Advisor
John Vento, one of the earliest Proforma (asi/300094) owners and the first member of the company’s Multi-Million Dollar Club, died on Monday at Mountainside Hospital in New Jersey. A dedicated businessman, devoted family man and a Korean War veteran, Vento was 78.

Vento joined Proforma in October of 1988, following his long tenure as a senior executive at the Burroughs Corporation. During his more than 20 years with Proforma, Vento became one of the distributor’s most successful owners and took a leading role in developing the company’s advisory council. Vento was also a confidant to Greg Muzzillo, Proforma’s founder. “John provided me with sound advice during some key developmental years in Proforma’s history,” Muzzillo said. “In some ways, he was like a second father to me. John will truly be missed.”

While Vento entered the ad specialty industry with no customers, he quickly grew his business and established a strong legacy at Proforma. Vento’s wife, Angela, and three sons, Joseph, Paul, and John Jr., have all held positions at Proforma.

Vento is survived by his wife and three sons, as well as six grandchildren. A funeral Mass for Vento was celebrated yesterday at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church in North Caldwell, N.J.

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.

Important Announcement At Next Week’s ASI Virtual Trade Show
ASI President and CEO Tim Andrews will be making an important industry announcement at the September 22 ASI Virtual Trade Show. Don't miss it! Click here to register for the Virtual Trade Show, and listen in as ASI unveils some groundbreaking news.

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 17, 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.

In The News
Alliance Rubber Company (asi/34345) has opened the ballot on its new packing design. To vote on one of the four designs, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NK9LF58. The winner will be announced on November 1.

Aprons, Etc (asi/36558) has announced the availability of NO-TIE Aprons, a new design that uses Velcro on the neckstrap and waistband making it adjustable to a variety of heights and body styles.

BIC Graphic USA (asi/40480) has launched two new wide-body grip pens that feature awareness ribbon designs.

Polyconcept North America, the parent company of suppliers Leed’s (asi/66887), Bullet (asi/42424) and Journalbooks (asi/91340), has announced that it has added a blog to its social media efforts. To view or subscribe to the blog, visit promoexcursions.com.

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.