(Editor’s Note: PromoWire by PPAI Media is a running digest of updates from organizations around the promotional products industry. PPAI Media will consider newsworthy entries submitted by any member organization.)

January 3

Genumark Appoints Mandi Rudd As Director, New Markets

Genumark (PPAI 261066, D11) is advancing its expansion into the U.S. with the appointment of Mandi Rudd as director, new markets.

• Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Rudd brings a wealth of industry expertise from her role at Brand Energy Marketing, a company she founded and successfully led for 10 years. Her move to Genumark signifies a new chapter where she will leverage her substantial client network and industry insights.
• Beyond her professional accomplishments, Rudd is deeply committed to community service. She is an active volunteer in the branded merch industry, holding board positions with PPAMidwest and PromoCares. Her passion to help also extends to her personal life, where she gives her time to an annual charity event called Big Slick benefitting Children’s Mercy Hospital. She also provides temporary foster care to shelter dogs in need of homes.

Flywheel Embarks On A New Era With Strategic Acquisition

Flywheel Brands (PPAI 342144, D7) has acquired Dynamic Decals & Promotions and Bespoke Printing.

• This move strengthens Flywheel’s manufacturing capabilities and introduces a highly skilled sales team poised to propel business expansion.

President Bart Simpson says, “We’re excited to elevate our manufacturing capabilities and broaden our market reach with a highly capable sales team. This strategic move resonates with our long-term vision for Flywheel Brands and we eagerly anticipate the opportunities it presents for our company and our valued customers.”

January 2

Kaeser & Blair Adds $5 Million With Promotional Concepts Integration

Kaeser & Blair (PPAI 103148, D12), which acquired Promotional Concepts of Red Oak, Iowa, in 2019 and has been running it as an independent company, is integrating all of its sales, service and operations into Kaeser and Blair Corporate.

  • The integration will add $5 million in sales volume to the K&B bottom line.
  • The Red Oak office is closing but all staff will remain on board and work remotely from their home offices. Promotional Concepts CEO Mike Lamb will transition to director of business development at K&B.

Lamb says, “As PCI was a company built upon service and personal relationships, going into a company like K&B, with four generations of family ownership, was a perfect opportunity.”

Iridescent And Bright Hues Highlight Bag Maker’s 2024 Introductions

Bag Makers (PPAI 111408, S11) has added seven new products to its 2024 collection, from eye-catching iridescent and brightly colored bags to eco-friendly options. The supplier also is now offering in-house, full-color imprinting on paper tissue at low quantities.

A sampling of new products include:

  • Iridescent Eurototes in two sizes crafted of 157 GSM iridescent-silver paper featuring a color-shifting, reflective finish;
  • Brite Shoppers in three sizes and a variety of brightly colored seven-pound matte paper with a fold-over top and white twisted paper handles;
  • Eco kraft-brown Eurototes with a matte-laminated finish and kraft-colored cotton twill handles; the bags are made from 100% recycled paper with a minimum of 60% post-consumer content.

Proforma Joins Forces With Local Organizations For The Holidays

Proforma (PPAI 196835, D13) partnered with three local organizations to close out the 2023 holiday season. The collaboration signifies Proforma’s shared dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable members in the Ohio community.

  • Proforma’s coordination with Providence House, Ohio's first and longest-operating crisis nursery, has spanned four years. Through this alliance, Proforma and its Support Center team members came together to gift carefully selected items from the children's wish lists.
  • Proforma team members also donated holiday gifts to children in need through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program and signed 100 holiday cards for residents at Sunrise of Parma, a local assisted living center.

“At Proforma, we believe in the power of compassion and the importance of supporting those in need," says Kathy Mayo, director of human resources. “Together, we strive to create a brighter and more inclusive future for all, embodying the spirit of unity and care that defines Proforma’s values.”