Industry News

• Back-To-School: Parents Focused on Basics – Not Tech Items

With worrisome signs about the economy looming over the heads of consumers that just won’t go away, new research from Publicis Groupe’s MediaVest shows that parents are much more focused during this back-to-school shopping season on basics like clothing and supplies. They are less interested in spending on bigger-ticket items, such as computers, phones and software.

And most back-to-school shoppers will be paying strict attention to the prices they pay. They say they are keeping a sharp eye out for advertised sales, discounts and rebates, the research found.

Last year, when there was generally more optimism that the bad economic times were receding apace, coupled with high demand for Apple’s new iPad mobile device, electronics purchases were the top priority for back-to-school shoppers, per agency findings.

• IBISWorld Forecasts Back-To-School Sales To Increase 2.6 Percent

LOS ANGELES – Aug. 9, 2011 – After declining in 2009 and 2010, back-to-school sales are on the rise again this year, according to IBISWorld. The company forecasts spending to increase by 2.6 percent during 2011 as consumers return to making necessary purchases that they may have put off throughout the recession.

• First Base Celebrates Its First 25 Years – July 18, 2011

At a reception held today in its Vaughan, Ontario headquarters, the Company celebrated 25 years in business since July 1986.

Jean-Pierre Cayer, the Founder and CEO, acknowledged the important contributions to the growth and consistently profitable operations by all stakeholders and the principals of companies that were acquired. “I feel privileged and grateful to have the opportunity to work with a great team that manages our business with innovation, integrity, market leadership and ensures that what we do always is a promise kept.”

The company has received congratulatory wishes from many individuals who have fond memories of dealing with the organization.

The Company First Base Inc. is a privately held company with headquarters and manufacturing facility in Vaughan Ontario, a suburb of Toronto where St James and Inveco products are manufactured.

DAC and Elementals products are manufactured by our subsidiary in Taipei,

Our products are sold internationally in more than 15 countries through Master Distributors and private label customers.

• Avery Dennison Announces Winners of Its Global Brand Experience Contest

MENTOR, Ohio, Jun 27, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) —
Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) today announced the winners of the Avery Dennison Brand Experience Contest, which challenged designers to deliver a unique brand identity for fictional products in five categories, including children’s juice, red wine, organic coffee, salad dressing and shampoo. The winners were announced at The Dieline Package Design Conference in Chicago. Read full press release

• E. S. Robbins names Phillip D. Wenzell Vice President of International

E. S. Robbins named Phillip D. Wenzell Vice President of International effective May 1, 2011. Wenzell joins E.S. Robbins from MeadWestvaco where he most recently served as Director of International for the consumer and office products division. He will join the International group at E.S. Robbins as they continue their outstanding customer service and sales growth strategies across the company’s product lines. Wenzell was awarded an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University and a B.A. in Economics from Wake Forest University.

About E.S. Robbins
E. S. Robbins Corporation, established in 1967, is a world-leading manufacturer of plastic products through its five divisions: E. S. Robbins Office Products, E. S. Robbins Consumer Products Group, Aleco® Food Service and Industrial, Centaur® HTP® Horse Fencing, and Kleerstrip® Flexible PVC. E. S. Robbins recently added innovative new products such as printed chairmats and deskpads and the new ecoKLEER™ chairmat. A new sales and distribution facility opened in Strasbourg, France, to serve the European market for E S Robbins Corporations’ products.

• Zebra Pen Unveils America’s First Retractable Erasable and Consumer Designed Pens

EDISON, NJ (April 2011)
Zebra Pen Corp., leaders in the writing instrument industry for more than 110 years, and manufacturer of the Z-Grip™ – America’s number one selling ball point pen, today announced the launch of its innovative new product line for 2011 including the Erase Away, America’s first retractable erasable pen, and the Sarasa SE, designed with the feedback of over 50,000 consumers. Read entire press release

• Do You Know What It Means To Hire Slow and Fire Fast

Join the School and Office Products Network, May 19, at 2:00 p.m. EDT for this informative webinar that will outline the key steps you should take before you hire anyone for any job, no matter how big or small. Learn more

• A Message From The Kids In Need Foundation

Ever wonder if donating product to the Kids In Need Foundation was ‘right’ for your company? KINF offers companies an opportunity to make much needed product donations without incurring any additional handling or processing fees. That’s right….they don’t ever charge donors to make a donation! From cartons to truckloads, KINF moved more than 12,500 pallets of product throughout the United States in 2010. The easy-to-use donation form and streamlined placement plan make it fast and simple to make donations. In other words, you can spend your day getting back to business, not chasing paperwork. And because Kids In Need has received Charity Navigator’s Four Star Rating for the third consecutive year, you can rest easy knowing your donations are making the greatest impact possible-at the heart of your industry. No fees, quick turnaround, and accountability—three reasons Kids In Need is your perfect gift- in-kind charity of choice. No other organization can offer the school and office products industry a perfect combination of product focus, widespread impact, and fiscal responsibility. For more information contact Jennifer Lehman at jenl@kinf.org.

• Jennifer Krach and Michael Lynch Named C-Line National Key Accounts Managers

C-Line Products, Inc. is pleased to welcome Jennifer Krach and Michael Lynch as National Key Accounts Managers. Jennifer and Mike will join existing National Key Accounts Manager, Don Sinclair, in managing existing customers as well as establishing new business development opportunities for C-Line.

Jennifer was previously with The Nielsen Company, an international market research firm, where she led the Global Services Sales team for over 10 years. “I’m very excited to bring my background and experience to C-Line and contribute to its growth in the coming years,” commented Jennifer.

Mike Lynch, a veteran in the office supplies & school markets, brings his extensive background in account management and sales development to C-Line. Mike spent over 10 years with Baumgartens, where as National Sales Manager he handled key accounts, regional and national wholesalers and new business development. Most recently he was Vice President of Sales for Slice, serving the office, school, art, safety and industrial markets. “It’s great to be working with C-Line,” said Mike. “They have a great reputation in the marketplace and continue to be a driving force in the industry.”

C-Line Products, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of storage, protection and organization items for the office products and education markets. The company is headquartered in Mount Prospect, IL, and maintains distribution facilities in Sacramento, CA and Mount Prospect, IL. For more information contact Jean Andersen at 1-800-323-6084 x3361 or jandersen@c-line.com or visit www.C-Line.com.

• ACRIMET REPORTS TRADE SHOW SUCCESS – AMERICAS

Celebrating its 39th anniversary this year, Acrimet is especially pleased with the results of recent trade shows.

Over the last year Acrimet has continued its participation as an exhibitor at Feria Nacional de Escolares y Oficina in Mexico DF and Home & Houseware Chicago.

We are always committed in giving the best to our customers in terms of quality, new trends, new ideas, new products and each year bringing the best in terms of desk and office organization in order to assist all our customers,” says Export Manager Jaime Nascimento.

“It was nice to have dealers coming to us accepting our invitation and having the good opportunity to exchange ideas and look at innovations. We met our current customers as well as new potentials and received great feedback. We have established a solid and credible reputation around the world as a stationery and office supplies manufacturer offering the right assortment to guarantee profitable margins for dealers.”