Last evening SAAGNY held its first NYC Food Tour!

 

It was a great night and a terrific way to learn about New York City - Chelsea Market, the High Line, Meatpacking District, and More!  And did I mention the food!?!?! - what better way to learn about New York then through food and walking!  We ate but did our 10,000 steps!

How do you judge success at The SAAGNY Foundation Day of Service event - all the happy and smiling faces of the children you interacted with all day!  Thank you to all who spent the day at the Hilltop School yesterday and made this the event that the school children and faculty look forward to every year.   Taking the time from your busy schedules and family to give back is a great feeling!  

The SAAGNY Foundation was named one of the inaugural inductees for the Happiness Is Camping Wall of Fame earlier this summer.  This special honor was created for those that have made Happiness Is Camping what it is today. The Happiness is Camping Wall of Fame is for individuals, foundations, and groups that have contributed financially to the camp, and/or have made a significant impact on the camp. 

Happiness is Camping is a non-profit ACA-accredited overnight camp for kids with cancer, ages 6–17, and their siblings. The camp is located on 145 acres in Hardwick, New Jersey.  Happiness is Camping is free to all who attend, and is recognized by the IRS as a 501 organization.  Founded by Murray Struver, the camp originally served as a retreat for inner-city kids to spend time in the country.  The camp's focus changed when the daughter of Struver's close friend was unable to attend because she was diagnosed with cancer.

Since its beginning in 1980, Happiness Is Camping is one of the longest running residential summer camps for children with cancer in America.  Since their first summer they have hosted over 18,000 children with cancer and their siblings.  Happiness Is Camping being the only camp specializing in the care of children with cancer in New Jersey, to be accredited by the American Camp Association.

The SAAGNY Foundation has made significant financial contributions to Happiness is Camping including, supporting the remodel of their North America cabin.  In addition, The SAAGNY Foundation and its volunteers have volunteered at the camp for over 25 years at its Annual Pirate Day.  This Pirate themed day consists of carnival games, water balloon fights, scavenger hunts, crafts, prizes, goody bags, and more.  Ryan Campbell, Happiness is Camping Camp Director stated, “We felt that SAAGNY was a most fitting inductee into our inaugural Wall of Fame class. Thank you for the impact you have made on our organization and for the fun you bring our campers each summer.”

                     

Individuals/Companies may be nominated through Friday, August 16, 2019 through the online survey being emailed to you.  The top nominees will be announced at the SAAGNY Fall Showcase on Tuesday, September 17, with online voting for finalists beginning after the show.  

Winners will be announced LIVE at the SAAGNY Holiday Party and Awards Presentation, Wednesday, December 11.

Please click here for a list of SAAGNY Distributor Members.

Please click here for a list of SAAGNY Supplier, MLR, and Business Service Members.

Do you know a SAAGNY Rising Star - an up-and-coming professional in the promotional product industry?  These individuals bring new ideas, dedication, and enthusiasm to both their company and the industry.  The Honorees will be recognized by their peers, receive a beautiful award, and a complimentary registration to PPAI SPARK.  Click here to review the requirements and application. 

How about showcasing YOUR creative excellence?  The SAAGNY Diamond Awards were created to recognize and showcase the creative excellence of SAAGNY members.  It is YOUR opportunity to spotlight your best work.  Click here to review the requirements and application.

Do you want to attend a PPAI conference in 2019 - consider applying for the Linda Robinson Leadership Award or the Past Presidents' Continuing Education Award.  It is time to make YOU a priority - click here for the requirements and application. 

Last night The SAAGNY Foundation  held Theater Night at the Brooks Atkinson Theater where Waitress the Musical was performed!

 

It was a great night!  Thank you Gary Rosenberg and Compass Promos for arranging us all to meet with Erich Bergen after the show!  It made the night even more special!

Take a listen to SAAGNY Past President, John R. B. Cudahy, CAS, on a Promo Cares podcast talking all things SAAGNY Foundation.

https://soundcloud.com/promocaresradio/john-cudahy-and-the-saagny-foundation

July 1, 2019…Woodcliff Lake, NJ – The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) hosted their seventh annual Summer Showcase for promotional products distributors and their clients last Tuesday.  The event attracted a record number of exhibitors, distributors, and end-user clients. 

Traffic on the show floor was brisk from the time the show opened at 10:30 am until it closed at 3:00 pm with over 650 attendees at the show in total.  End-user attendance increased nearly 5% from last year and has more than doubled since the show began.  The show floor was slightly reconfigured this year to accommodate additional exhibitors and sold out with a total of 85+ supplier and multiline representative companies occupying 140+ tables, up from 115 tables in 2016 and 120 tables in 2017.

                   

“The Saagny summer show is the best – I cannot think of another show that is busy from start to finish!”, said SAAGNY President Paul Sprunk. “Quality end users, interested in learning and buying!  This is the must-do show, of the year.  It is a great value for suppliers and distributors.”    

Over 210 distributor sales people representing over 80 companies had clients in attendance at the show, which included a “Best In Show” display, featuring favorite items from exhibiting suppliers, a gourmet lunch for all in attendance, an ice cream cart for a sweet afternoon treat, a photo booth to take pictures with your friends and colleagues, and gift bags for the end-users, filled with promotional products from more than ten exhibiting suppliers.

Remarked SAAGNY Executive Director Donna-Jean Plante: “It was gratifying to see the hard work of the volunteers, board, and staff come together to make this show another successful SAAGNY show.  I look forward to seeing even more distributors and more of their clients at next year’s event.”

About SAAGNY:  The Specialty Advertising Association of Greater New York (SAAGNY) represents the distributors, suppliers and decorators of imprinted promotional products in New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.  The association is primarily engaged in promoting business relationships between and among industry practitioners, providing continuing education to industry practitioners and monitoring legislative activities in the three state capitals and in Washington, DC.

This is in reference to The Foundation's Pirate Day at Happiness is Camping.

Unfortunately, we have just been apprised by the Director of the camp regarding "the measles outbreak in the Northeast and the fact that its effects could have a devastating impact on our campers on active treatment. Therefore, we are requiring all visitors to camp to be vaccinated for measles."  According to their Medical Director, it takes 3 weeks for the vaccine to immunize them. Therefore, if any volunteers aren't immunized at this point then, unfortunately, they won't be able to come.

Sadly, as a result of this unfortunate turn of events, we will cancel the event this year.  We will still deliver the goody bags to Happiness, leaving them with the guard at the entrance, earlier that week.

Remember, we have another summer event on August 1 at Hilltop School in Haverstraw, NY.  We hope you consider joining us there.

Very truly yours,

Idelle Schwinder & Sharon Schiffelhuber

Congrats to the SAAGNY Summer Show winners!  Thank you to all who participated!

$500 American Express Gift Card - Supplier

Larry Potter, alphabroder

$500 American Express Gift Card – Distributor

Terry Magun, Fresh Concepts

$500 American Express Gift Card - Client

Client of Andy Nadel, Pride Products

Ladies’ Bulova Watch

Client of Naomi Halpern, Promo Shop

Men’s Bulova Watch

Client of Julie Miller, Rutabaga Bag

BIC Koozie® Chillin' Bluetooth® Speaker Kooler

Client of Larry Funk, Geiger

If you were not at Tuesday's SAAGNY Summer Showcase - YOU should have been!  

SAAGNY held its seventh annual Summer Showcase Tuesday at the Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City.  The show floor was slightly reconfigured this year to accommodate additional exhibitors and sold out again for the seventh straight year!  This year's show included more than 85 supplier and multi-line representative companies occupying more than 140 tables.

Distributors representing more than 80 companies had their clients in attendance at the show, which included a “Best In Show” display, featuring favorite items from exhibiting suppliers, a gourmet lunch for all in attendance, an ice cream cart for a sweet afternoon treat, a photo booth for pics with your friends and colleagues, and gift bags for the end-users, filled with promotional products from exhibiting suppliers. The evening before the show included a NYC Pub Crawl where suppliers and distributors were able to mix and mingle in a fun atmosphere while visiting four of New York's hottest venues.  

                                

Thank you to everyone who made these events a huge success!