QCA News 2012

January 13, 2012: NORWOOD & BIC GRAPHIC BEGIN QCA ACCREDITATION PROCESS

The companies have applied to participate in the comprehensive compliance program developed by the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (January 12, 2011) – Last year was rough on business, as was seen in the unprecedented global changes that are impacting every industry and the worldwide markets. And the promotional products industry took its share of hits with raw material cost increases, changing demographics in China, public budget cuts for swag, and the continuous building of pressure on our supply chains through supply and demand as well as evolving product safety and compliance regulations. Read more.

February 23, 2012: CALIBRE INTERNATIONAL BEGINS QCA CERTIFICATION PROCESS

The company has applied to participate in the comprehensive compliance program developed by the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (February 23, 2012) – End buyers are mandating that the promotional products they purchase do no harm by jeopardizing the health or safety of recipients. That’s not an unfair expectation, as we’re supposed to be enhancing our clients’ brands, not putting brand reputations at risk by selling noncompliant product. Read more.

April 26, 2012: QCA RECERTIFIES FIVE INDUSTRY FIRMS

BDA, Broder Bros., Gemline, Leed’s and Logomark have completed the necessary requirements to maintain their QCA Certified status.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (April 26, 2012) – Compliance is a journey, not a destination. And once a company achieves accreditation from Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, the journey continues. Read more.

May 10, 2012: QCA NEGOTIATES WITH INK MANUFACTURERS FOR COMPLIANCE TESTING

The QCA Ink Testing Initiative worked with seven ink suppliers to conduct more than 850 individual tests measuring lead, cadmium, soluble heavy metals and phthalate content, with results available exclusively through QCA Accredited Suppliers.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (May 10, 2012) – Promotional products wouldn’t be promotional products without decoration, and oftentimes this embellishment includes ink. And while most ink manufacturers tested inks prior to releasing them on the market as part of a development protocol, most of this testing was performed years ago when different standards applied and protocols were different. Because the regulatory environment has changed significantly in the last couple years, as evidenced by the implementation of CPSIA and California Prop. 65 among others, not only is retesting imperative, but it’s required to comply with today’s regulations. Read more.

May 22, 2012: HIT PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS ACHIEVES QCA ACCREDITATION

The company joins 17 others that have met the rigorous qualifications to receive the promotional products industry’s only certification dedicated to product quality, product safety, supply chain security, social accountability and environmental stewardship.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (May 22, 2012) – The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has awarded QCA Accreditation to Largo, Florida-based Hit Promotional Products. Read more.

May 24, 2012: DISTRIBUTORS PLEDGE QCA SUPPORT THROUGH CHARTER

The Quality Certification Alliance has created a Distributor Advocacy Council Charter, giving distributors the opportunity to formally commit to meeting the higher product safety and compliance standards of Fortune 1000 companies through partnering with QCA Accredited Suppliers.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (May 24, 2012) – Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has created a Distributor Advocacy Council (DAC) Charter that allows distributors to formally pledge their support for the organization. The purpose of the charter is to allow QCA DAC participants to officially commit to meeting the higher standards of Fortune 1000 companies through partnering with QCA Accredited Suppliers that have been independently verified as having processes and procedures in place to deliver safe and compliant products. Read more.

June 6, 2012: BAG MAKERS ACHIEVES QCA ACCREDITATION

The company joins 18 others that have met the rigorous qualifications to receive the promotional products industry’s only certification dedicated to product quality, product safety, supply chain security, social accountability and environmental stewardship.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 6, 2012) – The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has awarded QCA Accreditation to Union, Illinois-based BAG MAKERS, Inc. Read more.

June 13, 2012: SEVILLE CORP. & SUNSCOPE BEGIN QCA CERTIFICATION PROCESS

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 13, 2012) – Eliminating risk. This is the reason Fortune 1000 companies continue to focus on vetting their supply chains. The damage to brand equity caused by a highly visible promotional products recall places our entire industry in danger as we potentially could be viewed as a high-risk advertising medium. Read more.

July 18, 2012: QCA RECERTIFIES FOUR INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS

Barton Nelson, Inc., Gordon Sinclair, Prime Resources Corp. and Sweda Company LLC have completed the necessary requirements to maintain their QCA Certified status.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 18, 2012) – Compliance is a journey, not a destination. And while it’s significant that companies make the original commitment to becoming accredited by Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, what’s even more important is that companies make compliance part of their long-term, ongoing processes and continue to maintain the high standards required to be a QCA Certified Supplier. Read more.

September 10, 2012: QCA CERTIFIES BODEK AND RHODES & DESIGN RESOURCES

The companies have now met the rigorous qualifications to receive the promotional products industry’s only certification dedicated to product quality, product safety, supply chain security, social accountability and environmental stewardship.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (September 10, 2012) – The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has awarded QCA Accreditation to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based Bodek and Rhodes and Overland Park, Kansas-based Design Resources, Inc./Caps Direct. Read more.

October 10, 2012: TOWEL SPECIALTIES ACHIEVES QCA ACCREDITATION

The company has now met the rigorous qualifications to receive the promotional products industry’s only certification dedicated to product quality, product safety, supply chain security, social accountability and environmental stewardship.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 10, 2012) – The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has awarded QCA Accreditation to Baltimore, Maryland-based Towel Specialties. Read more.

October 18, 2012: AMERICAN AD BAG & OTTO INTERNATIONAL BEGIN QCA CERTIFICATION PROCESS

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 18, 2012) – Buying promotional products shouldn’t be a risky proposition. Unfortunately, it can be, and Fortune 1000 clients are more concerned than ever before about costly mistakes in this competitive economy. They know that one wrong purchase can lead to a product recall, which is damaging to the bottom line as well as to brand equity that takes years to build. Read more.

November 6, 2012: QCA HIRES JEFFREY P. JACOBS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

His experience with product safety and compliance from his previous positions as a buyer of promotional products brings new insight to the organization.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (November 6, 2012) – Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has hired Jeffrey P. Jacobs as executive director. In this new role, he is responsible for increasing visibility of QCA both within the supplier/distributor community as well as more broadly outside the industry. Additionally, he will ensure QCA remains a responsive organization in terms of educating its members and the industry on issues related to product safety, product quality, supply chain security, social accountability and environmental stewardship. He is also charged with advancing QCA’s membership with new suppliers and building distributor relationships through the QCA Distributor Advocacy Council (DAC). Read more.

November 14, 2012: QCA ACCREDITATION GRANTED TO CROWN PRODUCTS

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (November 14, 2012) – The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA), the promotional product industry’s only independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping companies provide safe products, has granted QCA Accreditation to Mobile, Alabama-based Crown Products, Inc. Read more.