APPMA News

APPMA Members Make the News

In the first half of the year alone, the Association and its members have been mentioned in more than 1,640 published pieces in national newspapers, magazines, trade publications and on the Internet, resulting in over 200 million impressions valued at close to one million dollars in free advertising! With front page headlines in USA Today, articles in the business sections of The New York Times and Chicago Tribune, and stories in U.S. News and World Report and CNN.com, it is clear that this growing industry is a hot topic and the spotlight is on the variety of new, innovative and beneficial pet products to hit the market.

Most recently, APPMA’s members have also garnered television coverage on Good Morning America, CBS’s The Early Show and NBC’s Dateline. You can view this coverage on the APPMA web site at www.appma.org/appmanews.

Throughout the year, APPMA offers its members a number of opportunities to gain valuable media coverage. These promotional opportunities are primarily offered in the weekly e-Update that is distributed to all contacts in the Association’s membership. Look for future opportunities in upcoming e-Updates.

APPMA Honored at Green Chimneys Gala

On June 11, Green Chimneys held a gala event to salute “The Friends of Green Chimneys”-- associations and businesses who have committed themselves to furthering the organization’s cause. Along with dinner and dancing, the evening included a silent auction which raised funds for Green Chimneys and the many programs they have implemented since its inception in 1947.

For APPMA, this was an especially memorable evening since the Association and its members were honored at the event for their long-standing support of Green Chimneys in its effort to help at-risk and emotionally injured children, as well as provide care for maltreated or disabled animals and wildlife. In a presentation given by APPMA’s former Executive Vice President, Jules Schwimmer, the Association was recognized for the generous contributions our members have made over the years in donating much needed food and supplies for care of the animals that reside on the organization’s working farm. Financial contributions by APPMA member firms have also enabled Green Chimneys to establish a residence to house interns who come from all over the world in order to learn the restoring power of animal assisted therapy. As a show of gratitude, Green Chimneys presented APPMA with a framed picture of an eagle to serve as a reminder of the generous spirit of its member companies and all the good that has resulted from it.

Scholarship Winners

Charles Almiron, Nature Vet, attending California State Polytechnic University: Pomona
Joel Cullen, Kaytee Products, Inc. (Div. of Central Garden & Pet), attending University of Wisconsin: Madison
Benjamin Dewey, American Colloid Company, attending Brigham Young University
Kyla Kohagen, Planet Wise Products, attending University of Minnesota: Twin Cities
Minh-Bao Le, Nestle Purina, attending University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign
Erin Long, Grizzly Pet Products, attending University of Florida
Brian Timm, Kaytee Products Inc. (Div. of Central Garden & Pet), attending University of Michigan
Halley Vora, Cat Care Company, attending Drexel University

APPMA Welcomes New Members

This past June, APPMA welcomed the following 12 new members to the Association. This brings APPMA’s membership to nearly 850 companies.

Barkhouse Company (The) – West Palm Beach, FL
benni & penni – Westminster, CA
Cain & Able Collection, LLC – Austin, TX
Carolina Shavings, Inc. – Clinton, SC
Haute Pooch, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
Lasting Friends – Batesville, IN
Max Pawfection – New York, NY
Mimi Industrial Co., Ltd. – Bangkok, THAILAND
Natural Pet Nutrition (Div. Of Nestle Purina PetCare) – Westminster, CO
Primal Pete Foods, Inc. – San Francisco, CA
Prozyme Products, Ltd. – Lincolnwood, IL
Smiling Dog (Griecci Enterprises, Ltd.) – Providence, RI

APPMA’s Member Resource Guide...Your Handbook to Everything APPMA

In early June, the second annual edition of the Member Resource Guide was mailed to all contacts in APPMA’s membership database. The 2005-2006 Guide contains numerous additions and has been personalized just for you! Featured in this edition, you’ll find updated Association contact information and new membership benefits. Also featured in this edition is your unique User Name and Password for the APPMA website. The Resource Guide serves as a convenient and comprehensive tool to the ins and outs of being an APPMA member.

This Resource Guide will make it easier to take full advantage of all the valuable benefits associated with your APPMA membership including the 2005-2006 APPMA National Pet Owners Survey, Global Pet Expo, APPMA’s website, member services, government affairs and marketing and public relations opportunities. Keep this Guide close by and refer to it often when you need Association and membership benefits information or when you need to be reminded of your User Name and Password.

Value, Benefits, Success: The APPMA Advantage. Make your APPMA Membership work for you!

New E-Update HTML Email Launches!

Beginning in June, APPMA launched its newly reformatted E-Update weekly email. Designed to be more reader-friendly, the new HTML format allows members to easily navigate through the email while accessing articles of interest. If you missed a week of the E-Update, no need to worry since all emails are archived to the APPMA website and are exclusively available to members.

The e-Update is sent out by email each week to all contacts within APPMA’s 847 membership companies. It acts as the primary way in which the Association broadcasts information about important pet industry news, media promotional opportunities, updates on key government and regulatory issues, as well as the latest programs and benefits from Member Services.

Questions? Contact megan@appma.org

Press Releases

From summer’s sizzling new pet products to educational toys for this back-to-school season, the latest press releases distributed by APPMA’s public relations team have been jam-packed with members’ products. And while it seems a bit early to be thinking about trick-or-treating, the scoop on the hottest pet products for Halloween was distributed in a press release to long leads last month.

Check out some of the latest press releases distributed:

Summer’s Hottest New Pet Products Sizzle with Convenience and Innovation
APPMA announces products and warm weather safety tips to make the great outdoors more comfortable and enjoyable for pets and their owners.

Pets and Educational Pet Products: the New Teacher’s “Pet” this Back-to-School Season
Pets and interactive toys and training products help teach children responsibility and valuable lessons

“Time” is of the Essence When Caring For Your Pet
The end of Daylight Savings Time in October rings with new time saving products that make caring for pets more convenient than ever.

New Flashing, Glowing and Illuminated Pet Products in the Spotlight This Halloween
From Blinking LED Tags to Lighted Collars and Glow-in-the Dark Leashes, Pet Owners are Treated to New Breed of Safe Halloween Products

To view all the press releases click here

Holiday Satellite Media Tour for APPMA Members! Deadline: First-Come, First-Served

Due to the huge success of the Satellite Media Tour at this year’s Global Pet Expo, APPMA is thrilled to offer members the opportunity to participate in a Holiday Pet Gift Satellite Media Tour (SMT) in November, 2005. Along with DWJ TV, APPMA is organizing the Holiday Pet Gift SMT to consist of 1 to 3 minute live reports being broadcast on local news programs in 15-20 major cities across the country as well as a taped story distributed to hundreds of television affiliates nationwide. This is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure for your product and company with a million potential customers prior to the strongest purchasing season.

SMTs are typically cost prohibitive for many companies, but, by partnering with other APPMA members and sharing the cost, you are able to enjoy the benefits of such incredible TV news exposure at a fraction of the cost. This opportunity is limited to four to five products on a non-competing, first come, first serve basis. The cost for a Satellite Media Tour includes live satellite uplink time, booking of segments with TV stations across the U.S., set up, production, direction, talent and coverage reporting.

Price per company: $10,500
DEADLINE: First-Come, First-Served
For more information, interested parties should contact:
Deborah Genovesi
APR Vice President
West Coast DWJ Television
13082 Mindanao Way, #20
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 827-8567 office
(310) 729-5514 mobile

Mark Your Calendars for The 2005 APPMA Management Conference

The APPMA Management Conference is an educational and networking event designed to provide APPMA members with the information you need to meet the challenges of today’s global pet products marketplace. Don’t miss the next Management Conference scheduled for:

APPMA Management Conference Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada Conference: November 9-10, 2005 Golf Outing: November 8, 2005

This Conference, packed with exciting seminars delivered by influential industry leaders, will help you develop business and personal strategies to address the most pressing issues you face as a pet products manufacturer, rep or importer. Click here to read the full article covering APPMA’s Management Conference in this edition of the Advisor.

For more information on APPMA’s Management Conference, visit www.appma.org/conference or contact Member Services at memberservices@appma.org or 203.532.0000 x521.