Speaking only for myself, some of the things I love about the promotional products industry include the comraderie amongst distributors, the techno gadgets and yummy food gifts that can be customized with a company logo, the thoughtfulness and creativeness of promotional products distributors (now promotional consultants!) and feeling warm and fuzzy when all goes well in the creative and production universe.

About the only thing that really bugs me about this industry are the far and few between underhanded suppliers.

Suppliers in this industry who SAY they only sell through distributors SHOULD only sell through distributors - or be forthcoming about the fact that they are trying to sell to the same people I am trying to sell to. So, kudos to SmartBlast for catching Bel Inc. with their pants down, “going direct” and sending out this email that I’m certain most of the industry received (Scurvee Little Dawgs!)

Here are the salient parts of the SmartBlast’s email:

• To All SmartBlast List Members: As the Email marketing agency for Bel Inc., many distributors have brought to my attention that they sell direct online through a variety of [domain] names such as: [omitted to protect our own businesses]
• Furthermore, I’ve been told that Bel Inc. goes as far as to describe why end-users should not buy from distributors. For example: “We print directly at our facility. We are the direct manufacturer”“Here are a few things you should know about brokers.”“Middlemen cannot do this.”“Most brokers work from their homes.”“Brokers will take 2–4 day to investigate the problem.”“Brokers make as much as 40% commission”
• …brokers meaning you the distributor.
• After several calls to Bel Inc. that all went unreturned, SmartBlast will no longer be advertising Bel Inc.
• Bel Inc. needs to understand that they must choose between direct end-users, and you the distributor. They can’t have both. Thank you and I look forward to your comments and or suggestions.
• Regards,
• Michael Ryan
• President, SmartBlast.com
  mryan@smartblast.com
  Member: Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). “The mark of a professional”