Charles River Apparel (PPAI 111644, Gold) – PPAI 100’s No. 37 supplier – has hired two new sales reps – Michael Galati and John Bates – to provide more support to customers.

• Galati will be the direct sales rep for the Western Pennsylvania and Ohio territories. He brings more than a decade’s worth of experience in the promo industry from both the wholesale and distributor sides of the industry, and he’s covered multiple state territories, including the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest.
• Bates joins as a multi-line sales rep for Michigan. With more than two decades of experience in the promo industry, he’s worked closely with corporate and team dealers on both sides.

“Michael and John’s experience will help customers exponentially,” says Sharon Steed, director of sales. “Their experience on different sides of the industry has broadened their perspective to advise customers with tailored apparel solutions. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome them to our team.”

Print-on-demand company Printful and business services company Brikl (PPAI 803362) have formed a strategic partnership that combines Printful’s product catalog and global fulfillment network with Brikl’s e-commerce technology.

• The partnership will streamline order processing and provide access to a wide range of Printful products with three- to five-day global shipping. The partnership also simplifies cross-border selling without customs complexities.
• A webinar on August 28 at 10 am ET will discuss print on demand. Register here: Mastering Print on Demand with Printful – Brikl

“We are thrilled to partner with Brikl, a company that shares our vision of empowering businesses with cutting-edge technology and services,” says Chris Victory, head of partnerships at Printful. “This partnership will allow Printful to access the promotional products industry and be the first to market with on-demand at scale, setting a new standard for online selling.”

Jason Reinhardt, CRO and co-founder at Brikl, adds, “We’re delighted that this partnership will make Printful – a brand known for standout product standards, innovation and culture – available to the promotional industry in the U.S. and globally for the first time at scale. The depth of inventory through our partnership and consistency of inventory is something no other e-commerce platform can offer.”

Industry veteran Terri Harland will be leading onboarding and sales training as the new director of professional development at Amplifi, the educational arm of Facilisgroup (PPAI 493664).

• For the past two years, Harland has been Facilisgroup’s new business development manager. In this new role, she will leverage her extensive sales experience and knowledge of Syncore, Facilisgroup’s all-in-one cloud-based software solution, to support and expand Amplifi. The program helps seasoned professionals and newcomers excel in the promo industry.

“Terri’s proven ability to drive business growth, along with her expertise in Syncore, makes her an excellent fit for this role,” says Dave Rehg, senior vice president of partner success at Facilisgroup. “Her extensive experience as a sales leader for top promo distributors and technology providers has equipped her with a deep understanding of the promo industry, providing her with a unique and valuable perspective.”

Galaxy – More Than Balloons (PPAI 113835, Silver), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, has formed a strategic partnership with Welly, a leader in sustainable drinkware. The move marks a significant step in refreshing the Galaxy brand with a modern drinkware line that combines style with social impact.

• Welly’s collection of chic and practical drinkware is designed to minimize single-use plastic waste. With Galaxy’s 35 years of experience in the industry, the partnership will help Welly broaden its reach.

“Welly is excited to be partnering with Galaxy in the promotional space. With their years of experience in decorating amazing products, I am sure of the success we will see together!” says Benjamin Kander, president of Welly

“This partnership with Welly … gives our customers the ability to buy outstanding retail brands like Welly from us. Welly has built a name in trend-setting drinkware,” says Les Dorfman, president of Galaxy – More Than Balloons.