(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.)

August 29

SAGE Unveils Enhanced Company Store Standard

SAGE (PPAI 100001, A06) launches its upgraded SAGE Company Store Standard with a multitude of features designed to elevate the user experience and site functionality.

  • SAGE Company Store Standard, the introductory company store solution in SAGE’s company store offerings, now includes more of the advanced features and functionality within SAGE’s higher-level company store options, SAGE Company Store Premium and SAGE Company Store Premium Plus.
  • This all-new, enhanced version seamlessly incorporates distributors’ existing branding, colors, custom navigation, product selection and settings. The fully responsive design also enables viewing across all devices: desktop, tablet or mobile phone.
  • Additional new features include a product matrix and multiple image support, plus the ability to add multiple auto-rotating and linkable homepage banners to highlight featured products, seasonal promotions and other messages at the top of the page.
  • The upgraded SAGE Company Store Standard is available now. All existing Company Store Standard customers will be automatically upgraded to the new version prior to September 30, 2023, and will receive an email once the upgrade is complete.

Inkcups Unveils XJET Switch, Direct-to-Bag UV Printer

Inkcups (PPAI 464978, S1) announces the global launch of the XJET Switch, a groundbreaking digital printer for direct-to-bag and hard goods applications.

  • This state-of-the-art addition to the XJET line is the first UV flatbed printing machine formulated with high-quality bag decoration in mind. As the ‘Switch’ title indicates, the new machine boasts flexible capabilities for both pliable and hard goods, manual load and automated load and index – either 180 or 90 degrees if some pretreatment is required.
  • The equipment sets a new standard in swift and high-quality UV flatbed printing, producing high-quality, full CMYKWW (highly opaque white) images directly onto a variety of hard goods and bags (especially reusable bags and challenging substrates such as clear and thin bags).
  • The XJET Switch will be exhibited at PRINTING United, October 18-20, in Atlanta, Georgia.

JP Promotional Products Named Best In Westchester For Fourth Year

JP Promotional Products (PPAI 288504, D4) has been voted Best Promotional Products Distributor in Westchester, New York, by 914INC Magazine.

  • This is the fourth time the company has been recognized; it also won in 2022, 2020 and 2019.
  • JP Promotional Products is operated by President Shari Pulver and Chairman/CEO Robert Rosenthal, former president and principal owner of Union Pen Company.

August 28

Alexis Aubry To Run New Fractional CFO Service At Promo Consulting

Promo Consulting (PPAI 824358) has hired industry veteran Alexis Aubry to head up its new Fractional CFO Service for distributors.

  • Aubry is a 15-year promotional products industry veteran who spent four years as controller and operations manager for a large distributor and the past 11 years at Facilisgroup where she helped distributors implement Syncore technology.
  • With a background in accounting, extensive industry knowledge and software expertise, she brings the high-level skills needed to help distributor owners feel confident about their books.
  • The Fractional CFO Service offers services such as month-end reports, bank reconciliations, financial statement analysis, finance department oversight, reporting on the business’ financial health and coaching on finance department best practices.


August 21

Premier Press Joins With KG Specialties To Expand Production Capabilities

Premier Press (PPAI 823346, D2) has combined forces with KG Specialties to expand Premier’s in-house capabilities and quickly deliver on growing client demands.

  • Kyle Gibson, KG Specialties president and owner, will join Premier as director of promotional merchandise, and all KG Specialties employees will transition to Premier’s facilities.
  • KG Specialties has 30 years of experience in embroidery, screen printing and heat transfer, which complements Premier’s high-quality design and printing services. Since 2020, Premier has grown to 200 employees and invested more than $4 million in equipment.

“Numerous firms have approached us throughout the years with proposals, and we consistently declined. When Premier Press came to us, however, it felt different,” says Gibson. “Premier has a culture and mentality that aligns perfectly with KG Specialties.”

Premier Vice President Manuel Saez says, “Anybody can buy equipment, but it’s the people who run the equipment, it’s their expertise, and their professionalism that truly matters. Premier and KG Specialties have decades of experience serving clients and a deep commitment to our craft, and we cannot be more thrilled to join forces.”