Coach's Corner
by Fred Albrecht
2014 was a record year with over $27.5 Million in Booked Sales and $26.9 Million in Billed Sales. We are so proud that more of our sales executives earned more commissions than ever before. We grew by more than $5.5 Million Dollars, a 26% increase over the record year we had in 2013. We are very excited about the near future as we continue to help our existing sales executives achieve their goals and dreams, and at the same time, attract the right sales professionals to join our team. We are most proud that all of our existing sales team came to us as "referrals" from our sales team and industry friends. In fact, when we look back at our most recent people who have joined our internal team, we realized they too have come as a result of referrals from existing employees and their family members. Suzie and I are proud that we have been able to succeed and grow without compromising our core goal of creating a home where we can call all our business partners and our employees, friends.
Coach Fred
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 What's is your client's Brand and Reputation worth?
For those clients who like the "test the waters" of the internet, this is a great article to share to illustrate how you bring value to the market place by selecting products that not only fit their budget and needs, but also are from trusted suppliers who are compliant with respect to safety and also compliant with respect to "intellectual property". The thrill of the "lowball price" will soon be forgotten if a client gets caught up in a legal battle jeopardizing their brand integrity for a "few pennies".
China regulator blasts Alibaba for illegal business on its websites
A China regulator has accused Alibaba Group Holding Ltd of failing to clean up what it called illegal business deals on the e-commerce titan's platforms, in an unusually strong government criticism of one of the country's biggest private companies.
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), in a report published on its website on Wednesday, said many products sold on Alibaba's e-commerce websites and services infringed upon trademarks, were substandard or fake, were banned or endangered public security.
Alibaba declined to comment on the report.
SAIC said its report summarized a July 16, 2014, meeting between government business regulators and Alibaba, and said it had delayed releasing the report until now to avoid affecting Alibaba's September initial public offering.
SAIC did not elaborate on that decision. The report was later removed from the main page of SAIC's website. (www.saic.gov.cn).
"Alibaba Group has long paid insufficient attention to the illegal business activities on Alibaba platforms," the SAIC report said. The company "let that abscess fester until it became a danger," it added.
The regulator's scathing tone is unusual for a country that champions its largest home-grown corporations and actively encourages their global expansion ambitions. Alibaba, which raised a record-setting $25 billion from its New York IPO, and peers like Tencent (0700.HK) and Huawei [HWT.UL] form the vanguard of a fast-growing Chinese technology sector.
Alibaba's American depositary receipts slid 3.2 percent to $99.63 in Wednesday afternoon trade. The company is to release quarterly results on Thursday.
The report said Alibaba officials, for their part, pledged during the July meeting to take the necessary steps to rectify the problems. The SAIC has a broad supervisory role over online trading platforms and business in China.
Alibaba, which until a few years ago was on a U.S. list of "notorious markets" for intellectual property infringement, has fought hard to tackle counterfeit products to keep its reputation from being tarnished in the run-up to, and after, the IPO, the world's biggest ever listing.
Earlier this month, it reached an agreement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to stop the sale of up to 15 illegal or dangerous toys in the United States.
Online fakes, however, remain a big problem in China.
Joe Simone, director of Hong-Kong based intellectual property consultancy SIPS, said the regulator's comments about counterfeit goods were no surprise.
"The frankness of the report and its condemning tone are unprecedented and speak volumes about what the SAIC found in its inspection," he added.
In the report, the regulator said Alibaba had misled consumers during sales events, including its popular Nov. 11 annual "Singles Day" shopping extravaganza.
At last year's event, Alibaba reported a surge in sales transactions to a record high of $9 billion, but merchants told Reuters they felt pressure from Alibaba's Tmall to boost their figures on the day with heavy discounts and delayed recognition of earlier sales.
On Wednesday, Alibaba's consumer-to-consumer shopping website Taobao said it would lodge a complaint with the SAIC over a separate investigation by the regulator that allegedly uncovered a range of counterfeit products on the site.
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Kurt McGovern Presents New Items from Galaxy Balloon
Kurt McGovern visited our office and was kind enough to record a few videos with some key points of his meeting. Just in time for March Madness... check out these four color process printed basketballs and footballs! Kurt gives some fun ideas on how to use these new products. Galaxy Balloon also is now offering custom electronics such as power banks and speakers as well. Finally, for next holiday season, check out their custom ornaments.  | | Kurt McGovern - Galaxy Balloon Company |
Also, check out this great SELF PROMO offer that Kurt is sharing with us from Handstands!
For more info, contact:
Kurt McGovern Marketing Group, Inc.Kurt McGovern, President 21245 Lorain Avenue Suite 207 Fairview Park, OH 44126 440-343-3405 mobile kurtmcgovern@gmail.com
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Great Deals on Writing Instruments from Sanford B2B
2015 is off to a great start. Attached are our current promotions. Please note FREE Shipping on the entire Ink Joy Family for all of 2015! Published catalog quantities only. I will review everything with your group when I am down to present on Feb.24. Custom catalogs should be to you very soon (250) total. Click on the image for a full size PDF that you can distribute to your customers.
Peter Engoglia Key Account Manager Sanford B2B-Cleveland Office 114 Barrington Town, Sq. #142-Aurora, OH-44202 Midwest Region: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Western PA, Western NY Office: 440-543-2226 Fax: 440-543-2724 peter.engoglia@newellco.comwww.sanfordB2B.com
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Here is a great deal our team found at the Proforma Chicago Regional Show.
Be on the cutting edge with great quality products from Utica's Kutmaster line. Check out the catalog for cutlery sets, steak knives, folding knives, sportsmans knives, kitchenware, barware, multi-tools and more. Kutmaster is a Proforma PLP vendor and offers the following special pricing: EQP less 5% on any stock item in our 2015 catalog EQP less 8% on any stock item of ours that goes into a catalog program, company store, web store, etc. All I ask for is proof such as a copy of the catalog, link to the web site, etc. EQP less 10% on any stock item and 50% off of the set up charge for self-promotion. All of this information is also listed in our PLP Profile. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please let me know. Thanks, John Short National Sales Manager jshort@kutmaster.comUtica Cutlery/Kutmaster 820 Noyes Street Utica, NY 13503 Cell: 314-341-6322 Office: 800-888-4223 Fax: 315-733-6602
Congratulations! You are a PREFERRED TOWEL SPECIALTIES CUSTOMER Here are your 2015 Program Benefits Preferred Pricing: You receive EQP for all decorated orders of 72 units or more. Catalog imprint color minimums apply. There is no minimum to receive EQP for blank goods. FREE Random Samples: Up to $25 in value per day, with your FedEx or UPS account number. FREE Embroidery Digitization: On orders of 144 or more. FREE Paper Proofs: No charge for first paper proof with each order. FREE Spec Samples: You may receive one free printed or embroidered spec sample per year (1 color imprint or up to 8,000 stitches at no charge). Submit with UPS or FEDEX number to samples@towelspecialties.com. Allow at least 7-10 business days. **ColorFusion™ Transfer and custom orders do not qualify. FREE Virtual Samples: Email your request to virtuals@towelspecialties.com with the subject line "Virtual Sample: Logo/Image Name." Please allow 48-72 hours for virtual sample requests. Preferred Production Times: Qualify for 5 day production time with no rush charges for printed orders (one color imprint only, catalog quantity maximum on any qualifying product from the Towel Specialties line). Please reference PCL 5-Day No Rush on your purchase order. Self Promotion Program: EQP less 25% on all products. Embroidery digitization (up to 8,000 stitches) or one screen is provided at no additional charge. ColorFusion Transfer set up charges are $45.00(v). Catalog minimums apply. End User Catalog Participation: Receive the following when our products appear in your end user's catalog: - FREE Printed or Embroidered Spec Sample (maximum 1- color screen print or 8,000 embroidered stitches).
- You are responsible for additional setup charges and freight.
End User Catalog Allowance: We value your program business and offer the following catalog allowance: - $50.00 per product (3 product max per program, up to $150.00) to appear in an online catalog. Items must remain online for at least 6 months
- $100.00 per product (3 product max per program up to $300.00 per catalog) to appear in a printed catalog.
- To qualify for your catalog allowance credit memo, submit a copy of the printed catalog or webpage and PO# w/minimum order of 72 units, to brandons@towelspecialties.com. The credit will appear as a credit memo on your Towel Specialties account.
Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, Shawn Kanak, VP of Sales |
Check Out the New APP from Aakron Line
To download, search Aakron Line in your app store.
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Webinar This Coming Wednesday! Click to Register!
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Click on the image to review the entire newsletter from alphabroder
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If you would like to review any of our past issues, we now have them archived.
Click Here for the archive page. |
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