Meet Lawrence Giles with Vu Line Direct!     


1. How long have you worked in the promotional products industry?   - Feels like forever, but it’s only been since 1997 (which is like kinda like forever, right?)

2. How did you get into your first industry job? – Needed a Summer Job while I was going to College and was hired as a CSR for Bullet in Miami, FL 

3. What’s one thing — either industry/work-related or not — you learned in the past month? – I’m learning things all the time so it’s hard to nail one thing down. If I could go with a piece of advice I would say, “Arm Yourself With True Friends”

4. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? – Be Adaptable to Change. Another one would be, BEWARE: Competitive Advantages Don’t Last Long (that’s one I would give) 

5. What is your favorite promotional product and why? – Tradeshow in a Bag, of course. Everything you need for a tradeshow, backdrop, banner stand, table cover and table top retractable and it all fits in a single, easy to carry bag. It’s a very practical piece, easy to set-up & breakdown, can be used together or individually, and was nominated for Product of the Year by PPAF

6. What was the first concert you ever attended? – I was a concert promoter in my previous life, even toured the country a couple of times so this question really resonates with me. Seen a lot of Great Shows and I have a ton of stories to tell. My first concert wasn’t my favorite concert so I’ll go with one of my favorites instead, Beastie Boys, Cameo Theater, Miami Beach, 1991.

7. If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? – Pizza is the go-to here, right? Very versatile and you can swap out the meats and cheese and go completely vegan, but I’ve been eating a lot of cereal lately - Ezekiel 4:9 w/ Raisins, Honey, Blueberries, Banana, and Coconut/Almond Milk is Awesome so I’ll go with that

8. What are you currently binge-watching or reading? – I’m reading the Godfather by Mario Puzo right now, but the best book I’ve read this year (besides the Bible) was East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables  and Crime & Punishment by Dostoevesky are on deck

9. What characteristics do you admire most in others? – I think we all tend to admire the characteristics in others that we lack in ourselves or maybe the characteristics that we wish we had more of – honestly, integrity, courage, etc… I have a Friend that can call you out on something and do it smiling & laughing and just have a good spirit about it. He makes you feel dumb, but not too bad that you tried to get over on him. I think that’s a pretty cool characteristic to have   


    Lawrence's contact information: 

    Supplier Member

    Email: lawrence@vulinedirect.com

    Website: https://vulinedirect.com/

      09.07.2021

      Meet Shannon Butkus with Goldner Associates!


      1.     How long have you worked in the promotional products industry?   
      Twenty-six challenging but rewarding years! I have been through 9/11, the crash of 2008 and now Covid. It has been a great ride knowing I made it through, and I have maintained and provided superior service to my great client base.   

      2.     How did you get your first industry job?
      This is big and sort of emotional for me. For those who remembers Gail Veasey, I met her on a trip to Ocracoke Island with a boyfriend and his family. We were all vacationing together. Over some wine and long talk, she and Bob Veasey asked me if I would be interested in working in sales. I had a master’s degree in social work, which was going nowhere, .  I was intrigued and didn't have a clue about Swag back then. She thought with my personality and listening skills that I would be great in sales! I am so thankful she took a chance on me.

      3.     What did you want to be when growing up?
      I wanted to be a teacher, or someone who could help people.  I was always sure of the latter!  

      4.     What’s one thing — either industry/work-related or not — you learned in the past month?
      I did it!  I made it through another world tragedy. My strength and perseverance surprised me. I did not think I would make it. But looking back at what I have been through in this industry, especially being 100% commission, I really believe in the value and resilience of Promotional Product and our industry.

      5.     What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
      “ This is not a hobby”. This came from a wonderful guy named David that I worked with who is not in the industry anymore. He explained it like this: We work so hard to help people, we quote and sell, but at the end of the day we must keep moving. They may bid us out, they may try to push our pricing. But really, this is our livelihood, and we actually bring something to them. We bring security that we will be there, creativity, great pricing always , and motivation to show them we want to be their rep. However, if they do not value us, this is not a hobby. Keep moving on. This is Not a Hobby.

      6.     What is your favorite promotional product and why?
      Power Banks! Come on, we are always on our phones, and we definitely need them… I mean I have one charging in every room…

      7.     What was the first concert you ever attended?
      Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings in Chicago… it was amazing, 8th row!

      8.     If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
      If calories didn't count, I would eat Pub Fried Chicken. It is an Illinois thing. It's the best Chicken, if only I could avoid the extra weight it would bring! 

      9.     What are you currently binge watching?
      There is nothing left after covid, is there, lol.  If anyone has a good suggestion, I'm open to recommendations!

      10.  What characteristic do you admire most in others?
      Honesty and Transparency. I can handle a client after all these years telling me they went with someone else. It used to hurt. But now it just shows me I have to work a little harder and I so appreciate that they were honest enough to tell me why they chose someone else.


      Shannon's contact information: 

      Distributor Member

      Email: sbutkus@goldnerassociates.com

      Website: https://goldnerassociates.com/

        06.21.2021


        Meet Adelle E Weeks with Howard Miller Co.!  

        1. How long have you worked in the promotional products industry?   

        I have been in the industry for 23 years and all of them as a representative of Howard Miller Clocks.

        2. What do you like best about our industry?

        The flexibility it has afforded to have a good balance of work time, family time, and of course, lake time.  I also love the ability to work from home and that has allowed my husband and pups to live on West Point Lake in LaGrange, GA.

        3. What’s one thing — either industry/work-related or not — you learned in the past month?

        Maybe not the last month....  Perspective.  Everyone's view of a situation is different depending upon what part they play in the story.

        4. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

        I'm not sure.  But the advice I give others is simple.  Do what you say you are going to do.  I find it continues to amaze people that some of us commit and follow through.

        5. What was the last book you read?

        Something by James Patterson.  Those crime novels he writes all run together at this point.

        6. What was the first concert you ever attended?

        Chicago - appropriate I'm with Howard Miller....  "Does anybody know really know what time it is"

        7. If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

        This is a silly question - Pizza

        8. What are you currently binge watching?

        My yorkie babies.  Raylan is now two, and Dexter just turned one.  They are true brothers from different litters and love each other in a special way.  No time for TV, we just watch the pups run and play, root in the sand, and swim.

        9. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

        No one.  I am truly blessed with a loving husband, sweet puppies, and good friends.  My mom lives across the street from me and I get to spend time with her almost every day.  I live out in the middle of nowhere and look at the lake from my office.  There are people I dearly miss I would like to spend one more day with, but no one with who I would like to trade places.

        10. What characteristic do you admire most in others?

        Kindness.  There is so much going out there to disagree with but can't we all just get along?  Seriously, simple kindness is truly needed in the world right now.


        Adelle's contact information: 

        Supplier Member

        Email: adelleweeks@msn.com

        Website: http://specialmarkets.howardmiller.com/

        06.14.2021


        Meet Gary Ban with Innovative Adhesives!  


        1.     Tell us about your company.  

        The name is Innovative Adhesives, but the web site is fanapeel.com.  Is this because you do fan logos and also hunting camo? Fan-A-Peel / Gamefaces have long been a staple in the sporting world.  First introduced over 25 years ago as a water applied tattoo in collegiate sports has now evolved into a fashion statement for fans, cheerleaders and players.  Licensed with over 135 colleges our products have embraced the fashion trends as well as impulse buy and immediate use by introducing several years ago a tattoo that can be used without water and used on most any surface.  As the inventor and patent holder for peel & stick temporary tattoos we have revolutionized the market and made it easier to anyone to wear and remove their "GameFace" at will.  We utilize the safest 3M Medical adhesives in our products and have expanded our lines to include metallic, glitter in standard and any custom design you desire.   A game day doesn't go by without seeing our products on TV, print and in the stands.  In addition to our mantra for safety and convenance we have embraced sustainability by only using recycled materials in our packaging.  All we want is for you to have fun and "put your gameface on"!!  

        Innovative Adhesive is a play on words, Fan A Peel is the umbrella brand for all products with GameFaces being the brand for our collegiate tattoo line and Thinskin is the brand for our Camo product.    Fan A Peel is also a play on words for Fan based peel and stick temporary tattoos.

         

         1a.     Related: You are in Cary, but the corporate address is Augusta (great place to have been this past weekend).  How does that work?

        Actually, our corporate office is in Cary and our warehouse and fulfillment is done out of our Augusta, GA warehouse.  (Augusta is always fun around the Masters !!)

         

        2.   How long have you been with IA? 

        I have been the majority owner since June 2009.

         

        3.   Why are you a CAAMP Member?    

        We expanded the business in 2011 to address the corporate promo and custom markets, we joined CAAMP to participate in a more regional presence.   

         

        4.    What industry events do you attend?  

         We have attended a number of shows to include PPAI, ASI, Sage road shows, CAAMP shows, Promo Marketing power meetings and various retail shows to include Sports Licensing Tailgate show, CAMEX and various gift shows.

         

        5.    What do you have on your bucket list?   

        Great question, I love to play golf and travel, so playing some of the more popular named courses like Pebble Beach or Augusta National would be a real treat.  Flying a fighter jet..

         

        6.    What is your favorite way to spend a day off?    

        Play golf with my friends, and sit by a fire and enjoy a cold beverage with my wife, family and friends.

         

        7.    What are your pet peeves?    

        People who waste my time..  other than that, I’m pretty easy to get along with.

         

        8.    What did you want to be when you grew up? 

         President of the United States but I think I will pass on that dream..  

         

        9.    What is an item that you can’t live without?    

        Music..

         

        10.    Do you have a favorite quote, or a thought you would like to leave us with?

         “  If you want to live life on your own terms you have to be willing to crash and burn ”. 



        Gary's contact information: 

        Supplier Member

        Email: gban@innovativeadhesives.com

        Website: www.fanapeel.com

        04.14.2021


        Meet Steve Rater with S2 Marketing Group!  


        1.     At what capacity did you enter the industry and why?  

         I began in this industry as a regional sales manager at C+D/Hit in 1985.

        2.     If you could learn to do anything new, what would it be? ...

        I would like to become a boat captain.

        3.     What is something about you (A fun fact) that many people do not know?

        I grew up on a dairy farm and milked cows every day before getting on the school bus.

        4.     What was one of the greatest experience in your life?

        Watching my two children being born.

        5.      Who is the one person that has guide you to success... and why?

        My Father taught me a work ethic that continues today.

        6.      What is the first thing you want to do after COVID-19 is behind us?

        After Covid 19 I want to make calls in offices again.

        7.      Tell us about your family?

        I have been married for 34 years and have two Georgia Southern graduate children.

        8.      What is your favorite food?

        My favorite foods are always changing, my wife and I enjoy cooking new recipes all the time.

        9.      What is your favorite word and why?

        My favorite word is love.

        10.      If you could hang out with anybody in the world who would it be? Dead or alive & Why? 

        If I could spend time with anybody it would be Ronald Reagan, he was truly an inspiration.


        Steve's contact information: 

        Multiline Rep Member

        Email: Steve@Rater.com

        Website: www.Rater.com

        03.29.2021


        THE HAPPY CAAMPER SPOTLIGHT

        CAAMP

        PO Box 949

        Waynesboro, PA 17268

        240.217.6470  

        Eliana@caampers.org

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