Visions / Awardcraft Focused on Growth with New Acquisition

Visions / Awardcraft, a leading manufacturer of corporate recognition awards, has acquired AITG, a nationally recognized business gifts supplier based in California. The move rounds out Visions / Awardcraft’s comprehensive offering of recognition and employee gifts, while infusing more infrastructure and support into AITG. The company joins Visions Awards, Awardcraft and Craftsman Awards under the Visions / Awardcraft family of companies.

For distributors, this translates into more product options and improved sales support complemented by Visions / Awardcraft’s commitment to innovation and service.

“Bringing AITG under the Visions / Awardcraft umbrella enables us to offer a broader selection of products and enhanced service to our distributors,” said Dave Willis, president of Visions / Awardcraft. “Our expansion into the business gift market will allow us to deliver high-quality gifts more quickly and cost-effectively. As a result, our distributors will have more options and more solutions to promote in their markets.”

In recent months, Visions / Awardcraft has set its sights on growth with comprehensive acquisition and branding strategies that are redefining the company’s offerings. The addition of AITG is the latest component to the company’s acquisition strategy, which included the purchase of Craftsman Awards in January 2008.

The strategy is not only building Visions / Awardcraft’s product offering, it is also bolstering the company’s distributor support capabilities. Its award-winning internal support team will be expanded, and the acquisition of AITG has allowed Visions / Awardcraft to establish a concentrated sales group on the West Coast.

This new sales team will be led by Les Dorfman, who was recently named vice president of sales—western region. Dorfman will focus on serving new and existing distributors on the West Coast, and he will further refine the business gifts division and brand. The additional resources will enable Visions / Awardcraft to bring support closer to its distributors for faster, more personal service.

“Les brings more than 30 years of industry experience and involvement to the team,” said Willis. “Our West Coast distributors are going to benefit from his industry expertise and insight.”

Visions / Awardcraft has additionally promoted Bill Sarno to vice president of business development. In this role, Sarno will continue to develop new business opportunities both domestically and abroad, contribute to new product development and define new product categories.

To build on the acquisition strategy, Visions / Awardcraft has launched a branding and marketing strategy that will help distributors distinguish between the brands that will best meet their needs. Jay Donlin, Visions / Awardcraft vice president of sales and marketing, is leading the charge to expand the company’s marketing strategy and to align the Visions Awards, Awardcraft, Craftsman Awards and AITG brands. The company has retained Graphica, a Miamisburg, Ohio-based branding agency to develop a new look and marketing direction for Visions / Awardcraft’s family of products.

The comprehensive branding strategy and aggressive marketing campaign will be rolled out over the next three to six months, just in time for the business gift season to get underway, Donlin noted.

About Visions / Awardcraft
A leading manufacturer of recognition awards and business gifts, Visions / Awardcraft develops the products and solutions that influence employee performance and elevate market awareness. In addition to developing high-quality and innovative products, Visions / Awardcraft offers strategic programming and communications solutions that strengthen recognition programs. Based in Celina, Ohio, Visions / Awardcraft comprises Visions Awards, Awardcraft, Craftsman Awards and AITG.

Awardcraft, Craftsman, and Visions Awards acquires AITG.

Celina, Ohio based supplier Awardcraft (PPAI 113370 ASI 37650) and Visions Awards (PPAI 110751 ASI 93986) and Craftsman Awards (PPAI 267179 ASI 47025) has added California-based supplier AITG (PPAI 111250 ASI 35530) to the Visions / Awardcraft family of companies. Visions / Awardcraft is the leading manufacturer of corporate recognition awards and is comprised of three distinct brands known as Awardcraft, Craftsman and Visions Awards. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition provides Visions / Awardcraft expanded capabilities in the business gift market and allows AITG, Inc. to benefit from the infrastructure and experience of Awardcraft, Craftsman, and Visions Awards.

“AITG is a great fit for Visions / Awardcraft as it elevates our position in the business gift segment,” says Jay Donlin, VP of Sales & Marketing for Visions / Awardcraft. “Business gifts are traditionally sold in the last two quarters of the year, whereas it is just the opposite for recognition awards. This will only add to the synergy between the two companies. AITG has enjoyed a phenomenal reputation in the industry and we are very excited to have them as part of our growing family of brands” says Donlin. Les Dorfman, President and CEO of AITG, says “We’re ecstatic to be on board with Visions / Awardcraft to assist us in accelerating our resources and the growth of our core business. With their solid foundation in the recognition segment, we truly believe we can bring AITG to the same level in the business gift segment”. Dorfman will continue with Visions / Awardcraft as the VP of Sales in the Western Region.

AITG will continue to operate under its current brand and the “Gifts by Visions” line will be folded into AITG forming a new division of Visions / Awardcraft. Customers can expect the same quality customer service level they have come to expect from AITG only now with the combined support of the Awardcraft and Visions team.

CELINA COMPANY HONORED FOR MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE

Irving, Texas, (January 29, 2008) Awardcraft of Celina, Ohio, was honored with a Gold Award at the 52nd annual PPAI Suppliers Achievement Awards competition sponsored by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). Fifty-six winners were recognized for manufacturing excellence during The PPAI Expo 2008, January 16th in Las Vegas. The event recognized the 2007 award-winning promotional campaigns, products and services.

"Winning suppliers are honored for their superiority in craftsmanship, graphic arts, creativity, innovation and service to distributors with this award," said Steve Slagle, CAE, PPAI president and CEO. "The winners worked very hard to earn this special recognition and their commitment to excellence is a tribute to this industry."

Awardcraft was presented a Gold Award in the category of Castings. PPAI Awards Committee members, along with representatives from the Printing Industries of America and the Jewelers Association, judged the entries according to criteria specific to each of the competition's 25 categories.

Awardcraft and Visions Awards acquires Craftsman Awards.

Celina, Ohio based supplier Awardcraft (PPAI 113370 ASI 37650) and Visions Awards (PPAI 110751 ASI 93986) has added Houston, Texas-based supplier Craftsman Awards (PPAI 267179 ASI 47025) to the Visions / Awardcraft family of companies. Visions / Awardcraft is the leading manufacturer of corporate recognition awards and is comprised of two distinct brands known as Awardcraft and Visions Awards. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition provides Visions / Awardcraft expanded capabilities in the glass and crystal market and allows Craftsman Awards to benefit from the infrastructure and experience of Awardcraft and Visions Awards.

“Craftsman Awards is a great fit for Visions / Awardcraft as they bring creative custom crystal solutions and stylish 3D glass designs to the awards market,” says Jay Donlin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Visions / Awardcraft. “Crystal and glass is such a large category of the recognition industry we felt it was important to partner with Craftsman who has a great deal of capabilities and expertise with this medium.” says Donlin

Craftsman Awards will continue to operate as a separate business. Customers can expect the same customer service they have known with Awardcraft and Visions Awards.