(Editor’s Note: PromoWire by PPAI Media is a running digest of updates from organizations around the promotional products industry. PPAI Media will consider newsworthy entries submitted by any member organization.)

December 22

Stran & Company Welcomes Industry Pros Nick Kiefer And Michele Pytlinski

Stran & Company (PPAI  161542, D10) has expanded its sales leadership team with the addition of Nick Kiefer as executive vice president of sales and Michele Pytlinski as senior vice president of client strategy.

  • Kiefer brings more than 15 years of industry experience, most recently as chief sales officer at ePromos Promotional Products. He began his career within the industry in 2007 at Touchstone and transitioned into sales leadership in 2015 as vice president of sales.
  • Pytlinski was also most recently with ePromos where she was vice president of enterprise sales. With more than a decade of industry experience, she brings expertise in leading multiple client relationships and developing strategic goals.

“We are excited to add these two promotional products industry veterans to the Stran leadership team, who collectively bring decades of industry sales experience to Stran,” says CEO Andy Shape. “We believe we are at an inflection point for Stran, given our strong organic growth and successful completion of several recent acquisitions. Our goal is to build on this foundation and we believe these industry pros will enable us to better capitalize on significant opportunities within the market. Nick and Michele have successful track records implementing strategic sales strategies to further customer penetration and growth. We are proud to expand our sales team and look forward to their contributions to Stran.”

December 21

Cintas Reports Fiscal 2024 Q2 Results

Cintas (PPAI 303547, D12) ended its fiscal 2024 second quarter on Nov. 30 with quarterly revenue reported at $2.38 billion, an increase of 9.3% compared to $2.17 billion in last year’s second quarter.

The Q2 2024 fiscal report includes these highlights:

  • Gross margin was $1.14 billion compared to $1.02 billion in last year’s second quarter, an increase of 11.6%.
  • Operating income increased 12.3% to $499.7 million compared to $444.9 million in last year’s second quarter.
  • Net income was $374.6 million compared to $324.3 million in last year’s second quarter.
  • Selling and administrative expenses increased $64.4 million, or 11.1%, compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Cintas President and CEO Todd M. Schneider says, “We are pleased with our second quarter fiscal 2024 financial results. Each of our operating segments continue to execute at a high level, leading to robust revenue growth of 9.3%, high operating margin of 21.0% and diluted EPS growth of 15.7%. This strong execution is the result of the exceptional dedication of our employee-partners.”

He adds, “We are increasing our full fiscal year financial guidance. We are raising our annual revenue expectations from a range of $9.40 billion to $9.52 billion to a range of $9.48 billion to $9.56 billion and our diluted EPS from a range of $14.00 to $14.45 to a range of $14.35 to $14.65.”

December 14

PromoStandards’ OS 2.0.0  Improves Communications Between Distributors and Suppliers

PromoStandards (PPAI 816699, A00) has released OS 2.0.0, an updated version of its Order Status, with key features to enhance order processing, streamline issue resolution and improve communication with suppliers.

This upgrade:

  • clearly states what is on hold and why.
  • implements advanced search functionality.
  • includes the contact information for suppliers.
  • introduces streamlined communication channels with dedicated fields for essential communications, proof approvals, and order audits.
  • makes order splitting a more seamless experience.
  • tailors the amount of information users would like to retrieve.

“The ability to communicate and resolve issues between distributors and suppliers is the next evolution of the standards,” says Steven Stanley, CTO at ePromos Promotional Products and a PromoStandards board member.

Raj Mukherjee, CIO at Hit Promotional Products and co-author of OS 2.0.0, says, “Order Status 2.0.0 will push the boundaries of communication between suppliers, distributors and service providers.”

December 6

Affinity HR Group Rebrands As The Workplace Advisors

Affinity HR Group (PPAI 520353, A01), a human resource consulting firm, has rebranded as The Workplace Advisors to reflect the company’s dedication to remaining at the forefront of industry trends and best practices.

  • For existing clients, this news signifies a continuation of exceptional service delivery with an expanded scope of expertise.
  • Beyond conventional HR compliance, the company offers recruiting, compensation, employee engagement, coaching and workplace culture enhancement among other services.

“We’re thrilled to introduce The Workplace Advisors as an evolution of our commitment to our clients,” says Claudia St. John, founder and CEO. “Our rebranding reflects our dedication to serving as strategic partners in every aspect of the workplace, offering solutions that transcend traditional HR boundaries.”