Vantage announces new appointments; opening of Southeast facility

by John Yuva

Vantage announces new appointments; opening of Southeast facility

AVENEL, N.J.--Vantage Custom Classics announces the appointments of five new sales representatives to its national sales force, according to Wendy Gray, marketing manager.

Anne Piotter, formerly of Maritz Performance Improvement Co., will be handling accounts in Missouri, Kansas and southern Illinois.

Christy Frank has been appointed regional sales representative for Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, while Timothy Shefferly will be joining Frank in the Ohio territory.

Justin Johnson is the new regional sales representative for Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Daniel Pauley joins Vantage as the new regional sales representative covering Florida.

In other news, Vantage recently opened its Southeast embroidery facility in Marietta, Ga., to accommodate the increased demand for Vantage's embroidery services in this area.

For more information, call (732) 340-3000.

Swingster and K-Products announce merger

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--Swingster and K-Products announce they have entered into an agreement to merge, according to Eric M. Morgenstern, president of Morningstar Communications.

The merger will create the country's largest vertically-integrated manufacturer and distributor of promotional products for incentive and brand-building programs.

"K-Products brand is a perfect addition to our growing 'family of brands,'" says Roger P. Henry, Swingster president and chief operating officer. "This merger positions us to leverage the outstanding combined capabilities of the two firms to provide unparalleled marketing services, promotional products and gift merchandise for companies seeking to build their brand equity."

Swingster will continue to be run by its current management team, headed by Henry, from its corporate headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. K-Products also will continue to be run by the current management team, led by Quentin Hatfield, president and chief operating officer, from its corporate headquarters in Orange City, Iowa.

"K-Products' long-term strategy has been to position our brand for growth," says Hatfield. "Our merger enables our combined client base to take advantage of a broader array of marketing services and promotional merchandise. We anticipate tremendous synergistic opportunities from this merger; it will be good for our customers, good for our employees, and good for the industry," Hatfield adds.

For more information, call (816) 943-5109.

Dri Mark Products turning to robotics

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--Dri Mark Products Inc. announces the completion of the first phase of its updated molding facility, according to Andre Reichmann, chief operating officer.

Reichmann says using robotics technology and computers is allowing the company to operate 24 hours a day, five days a week. The manned shifts end at midnight, but the molding machines continue to operate throughout the night.

"If and when there are any problems, the machines shut themselves down, report exactly when the problem occurred, and pinpoint what the problem is," explains Reichman.

Dri Mark currently owns and operates six molding machines ranging from 85 to 300 tons.

"We are currently in the process of installing three additional molding machines with plans of purchasing 10 more over the next 12 months," says Reichman.

The state-of-the-art machines will eventually be running on the weekends, creating a 24-hour operation.

For more information, call (800) 645-9118.

World Wide Art Studios' mugs are good enough for the president

COVINGTON, Tenn.--World Wide Art Studios announces NBC's Meet The Press recently ordered one of World Wide's fine porcelain mugs decorated with an eight-color design. The artwork included the NBC peacock, in full color, along with the Meet The Press logo. As part of the Meet The Press 50th year anniversary celebration, they needed a mug that would show well on the air, as well as being of a quality commensurate with the high profile dignitaries from around the world that appear on the weekly news program.

In other news, the company announces the appointment of Cynthia Messier, CPA, MBA as the new controller for World Wide Art Studios, according to Randall Hozid, MAS, executive vice president.

Messier brings more than 15 years' experience in the accounting profession. Her first 10 years in the industry were with Gerber Products Co. at locations in Michigan and Boston. Prior to joining World Wide, Messier headed the finance and administration function for a $50 million division of Howden, PLC, a UK based conglomerate.

For more information, call (901) 476-9797.

PPA summer show set for August

IRVING, Texas--The Promotional Products Association International announces the upcoming PPA World St. Louis summer show, August 12-15, at the Cervantes Convention Center in St. Louis, according to G. Stephen Slagle, PPA president.

The summer event will feature more than 1,400 exhibitor booths, 50 educational sessions, national awards programs and numerous opportunities for attendees to explore new marketing tactics and network with professionals from around the country.

"We are calling this year's show 'Your gateway to Success, PPA World St. Louis' because the programs we have planned in this vibrant Midwest city will help pave the way for distributor personnel to achieve even greater success in their business endeavors and in serving promotional products end-buyers," says Slagle.

To register and to obtain further information for PPA World St. Louis, call PPA at (972) 258-3100.