3M Promotional Markets Department

Statistics show counterfeiting has grown to become a $535 billion a year industry, and it’s expected to grow to $1.3 trillion by 2010. Counterfeiters are increasingly targeting high-value brands in the technology and electronics sector, as well as apparel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and automotive parts. This month’s mystery product is a solution previously reserved for secure identification documents, such as passports and drivers licenses, that is now available to the commercial marketplace. It also adds an eye-catching feature to products and packaging. Use the following clues to try to guess what the product is: • It is a multi-layered security system featuring both overt and covert

Every cloud has a silver lining, but those accompanying Hurricane Katrina carried a golden opportunity for Yvette Hymel and Rachel Zabala. Hymel was a sales executive and Zabala was a graphic designer for a New Orleans-based company that provided promotional products and some printing. A little more than a week after the storm devastated the area, the owner relocated to Houston and rented new office space. “I was born and raised in New Orleans and was getting married in November, and Yvette has two kids in school here,” said Zabala. “Our roots are planted in New Orleans. We couldn’t fathom moving from home.” Many of