PromoKitchen Podcast

On today’s show, we welcome Jon Levine, President of the distributor The Image Group based in Holland, Ohio. Jon graduated with a degree in accounting from Arizona State University in 1980 and used this experience to establish his early career in the steel industry. In 1991, he shifted his focus towards the promotional products industry when he started The Image Group.

Since the founding of the company, Jon has grown The Image Group into one of the industry’s most respected distributors.

Earlier this month, Jon made headlines with the acquisition of two ecommerce sites, Bag Warehouse and Thirsty Promo. The deal marks The Image Group’s move into the ecommerce world and helps them diversify their customer base.

Said Levine in a recent press release “Our customers are increasingly interested in researching and procuring promotional products online. We believe the shift to online purchasing reflects the growing influence that millennial-aged employees are having in company buying decisions. This acquisition helps us remain ahead of that shift.”

Over the course of this podcast, we will explore this exciting new shift to the online world and how others can learn from Jon’s experiences.

On today’s show, we welcome Jon Levine, President of the distributor The Image Group based in Holland, Ohio. Jon graduated with a degree in accounting from Arizona State University in 1980 and used this experience to establish his early career in the steel industry. In 1991, he shifted his focus towards the promotional products industry when he started The Image Group.

Since the founding of the company, Jon has grown The Image Group into one of the industry’s most respected distributors.

Earlier this month, Jon made headlines with the acquisition of two ecommerce sites, Bag Warehouse and Thirsty Promo. The deal marks The Image Group’s move into the ecommerce world and helps them diversify their customer base.

Said Levine in a recent press release “Our customers are increasingly interested in researching and procuring promotional products online. We believe the shift to online purchasing reflects the growing influence that millennial-aged employees are having in company buying decisions. This acquisition helps us remain ahead of that shift.”

Over the course of this podcast, we will explore this exciting new shift to the online world and how others can learn from Jon’s experiences.

Mark Graham welcomes Chuck Fandos back to the program. Chuck was first on the podcast in May 2012 so a repeat visit has been long overdue. Chuck is the founder of Gateway CDI, a prominent distributor based in St Louis. He is also the CEO of Facilis, a leading industry software provider and technology enabled buying group.

In January 2016, it was announced that UK based distributor Brand Addition had acquired Gateway CDI. This got me thinking that there would be an opportunity to hear from Chuck as to why he sold Gateway, what process he went through to sell the company and what advice he’d offer to entrepreneurs looking to sell.

Mark Graham welcomes Chuck Fandos back to the program. Chuck was first on the podcast in May 2012 so a repeat visit has been long overdue. Chuck is the founder of Gateway CDI, a prominent distributor based in St Louis. He is also the CEO of Facilis, a leading industry software provider and technology enabled buying group.

In January 2016, it was announced that UK based distributor Brand Addition had acquired Gateway CDI. This got me thinking that there would be an opportunity to hear from Chuck as to why he sold Gateway, what process he went through to sell the company and what advice he’d offer to entrepreneurs looking to sell.

Tony Wavering is the founder of bidPress. In 2005, while studying at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Tony started a custom apparel business that sold to many student groups and businesses in Pennsylvania and New York. After graduating from Penn, Tony worked as a management consultant for Deloitte Consulting in New York City for six years, working primarily with global banking and securities companies on mergers, integrations, divestitures and performance improvement initiatives. Tony left Deloitte in late 2013 to return to the custom apparel business full-time, starting bidPress.

Tony Wavering is the founder of bidPress. In 2005, while studying at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Tony started a custom apparel business that sold to many student groups and businesses in Pennsylvania and New York. After graduating from Penn, Tony worked as a management consultant for Deloitte Consulting in New York City for six years, working primarily with global banking and securities companies on mergers, integrations, divestitures and performance improvement initiatives. Tony left Deloitte in late 2013 to return to the custom apparel business full-time, starting bidPress.

In today’s podcast, Mark Graham and Charity Gibson get the chance to speak with one of the smartest, if not one of the most eclectic and unassuming, characters in the promotional products industry, Jeff Batson.

Jeff is the kind of guy you should know and here’s why:

Jeff has been President of NEXT Products in Shelbyville, Indiana since 2013. On his watch NEXT was named one of ASI’s fastest growing suppliers in 2015. NEXT, with its onsite corporate parent, is a manufacturer of injection molded drinkware and promotional print products. NEXT is a pioneer with polyurethane dome decorated products and recently added full color digital technology accessories.

Among other trade roles, Jeff has been a promotional product manufacturer, decorator, and business owner since 1999. Jeff was also a U.S. Navy submarine officer for 6 years. Jeff graduated from Vanderbilt University and has a master’s degree in operations from RPI. Jeff and his wife, Anne, are recent emptynesters, but still have tuition bills, and enjoy hockey, comedy clubs, and the symphony.

In today’s podcast, Mark Graham and Charity Gibson get the chance to speak with one of the smartest, if not one of the most eclectic and unassuming, characters in the promotional products industry, Jeff Batson.

Jeff is the kind of guy you should know and here’s why:

Jeff has been President of NEXT Products in Shelbyville, Indiana since 2013. On his watch NEXT was named one of ASI’s fastest growing suppliers in 2015. NEXT, with its onsite corporate parent, is a manufacturer of injection molded drinkware and promotional print products. NEXT is a pioneer with polyurethane dome decorated products and recently added full color digital technology accessories.

Among other trade roles, Jeff has been a promotional product manufacturer, decorator, and business owner since 1999. Jeff was also a U.S. Navy submarine officer for 6 years. Jeff graduated from Vanderbilt University and has a master’s degree in operations from RPI. Jeff and his wife, Anne, are recent emptynesters, but still have tuition bills, and enjoy hockey, comedy clubs, and the symphony.

In 2001, when I was relatively new to the industry, I attended an education session at the PPPC show with today’s guest, Cliff Quicksell. It was a transformative moment for me as I was challenged by Cliff to see the bigger creative picture as it pertained to promotional products sales. I will always remember that class and the several others I attended in subsequent years as key to my development as a professional in this industry.

While Cliff is certainly a household name in the industry, his bio is well worth recounting.

Cliff Quicksell, Jr., has been involved in the promotional products and sportswear industries for the past 33 years. During this tenure, he has been a mainstay on the education circuit at PPAI, ASI and several regional associations. Those who who have attended his sessions describe a man of boundless energy and enthusiasm for creative promotional products sales.

For more than 27 years, Cliff has been speaking, training and consulting internationally to associations and national business groups on more effective ways to market themselves and their products and services. Cliff has consulted for several blue chip industry companies such as: iPROMOTEu©, Fruit of the Loom, Inc., Brown & Bigelow©, AIA, Geiger© and Snugz© USA.

Cliff has been the recipient of numerous industry awards. Recognized by PPAI for creativity, he has won the prestigious PPAI Golden Pyramid award 23 times. He has received PPAI’s Ambassador Speaker of the Year Award 6 consecutive years. He has also been recognized by Counselor Magazine as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in the Promotional Products Industry.

Cliff is also a prolific writer, having been published in every recognizable trade publication in our industry, and we are honored that he now adds PromoKitchen to that list.

In 2001, when I was relatively new to the industry, I attended an education session at the PPPC show with today’s guest, Cliff Quicksell. It was a transformative moment for me as I was challenged by Cliff to see the bigger creative picture as it pertained to promotional products sales. I will always remember that class and the several others I attended in subsequent years as key to my development as a professional in this industry.

While Cliff is certainly a household name in the industry, his bio is well worth recounting.

Cliff Quicksell, Jr., has been involved in the promotional products and sportswear industries for the past 33 years. During this tenure, he has been a mainstay on the education circuit at PPAI, ASI and several regional associations. Those who who have attended his sessions describe a man of boundless energy and enthusiasm for creative promotional products sales.

For more than 27 years, Cliff has been speaking, training and consulting internationally to associations and national business groups on more effective ways to market themselves and their products and services. Cliff has consulted for several blue chip industry companies such as: iPROMOTEu©, Fruit of the Loom, Inc., Brown & Bigelow©, AIA, Geiger© and Snugz© USA.

Cliff has been the recipient of numerous industry awards. Recognized by PPAI for creativity, he has won the prestigious PPAI Golden Pyramid award 23 times. He has received PPAI’s Ambassador Speaker of the Year Award 6 consecutive years. He has also been recognized by Counselor Magazine as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in the Promotional Products Industry.

Cliff is also a prolific writer, having been published in every recognizable trade publication in our industry, and we are honored that he now adds PromoKitchen to that list.