Norwood Promotional Products

Norwood & BIC Graphic North America announced the addition of the iconic KOOZIE Can Kooler to britePix products by Norwood. Two styles are available with the full-color decoration now, with more coming in the future.

You may be wondering what more there is to know or learn about calendars, a product that has not gone through any drastic changes in centuries. What could I possibly say that you don't already know about this legendary promotional product? Plenty. Advertising calendars have been a major player in the industry for such a long time that pieces printed back in the 19th century and early 20th century are quite valuable. For example, according to Kovels.com, the well-respected antiques and collectibles print and online price guide, a 19th Century Coca-Cola Calendar can easily fetch around $1,000.

On April 14, Lenexa, Kansas-based Gill Studios announced several position changes in its senior management. Its current president, Tom P. Carrico, will be retiring as of May 3. He will remain with the company in an advisory role for a portion of 2010. Paul M. Lage, former president and CEO of Norwood Promotional Products, will replace Carrico as the new president and CEO of Gill Studios.

Headquartered in Independence, Mo., Dunbrooke, a manufacturer of high-quality apparel, announced that Diane Leslie has joined the Dunbrooke team. In her new position, she is responsible for territories in Southern California, Southern Nevada and Hawaii in both the promotional products and the decorator markets.

Up until 2009, the industry was surging ahead with sales figures that hit a whopping $19.4 billion* mark in 2007. In an ominous showing of what was to come, the sales volume for '08 fell more than a billion dollars, or 6.89 percent, coming in at $18.10 billion*. And while 2009 numbers aren't currently available, the business savvy reader and the not-so-savvy alike can guess where the numbers did trend in this past dismal year.

Promotional products are where it's at—the money, that is. Sales figures alone for Promo Marketing's annual Top 50 Suppliers ranking showed healthy growth for the 2008 fiscal year. In fact, this year's Top 50 reported a combined total of $5,368,273,564, a 12 percent increase over findings from 2007.

Every month, Print Professional brings manufacturers and distributors the hottest news in the printing industry. This month is no different. Check out our mini vertical product market showcase for some of the latest and greatest products out there today.