Cincinnati, OH - Effective June 28, 2010, Touchstone has acquired a controlling interest in Fanattik, LLC.  Fanattik, based in Cincinnati, OH, is a leading provider of custom designed apparel programs focused on High School, College, Team and Organizations.

Touchstone has acquired a controlling interest in Fanattik, LLC.  Fanattik, based in Cincinnati, OH, is a leading provider of custom designed apparel programs focused on High School, College, Team and Organizations.

"What Fanattik is doing in the High School and College space is incredibly innovative. Not only have they built a technical process for one-off fashion creation, they have developed a proven "do-good" business model that can scale across industries. This will completely change the world of branded merchandise and promotional products," states Derek Block, CEO of Touchstone.  In addition to technology that allows consumers to design online in real time, Fanattik has developed an innovative way to own the High School and College space through social media applications, internships, and design.  "The technology platform, middleware, and production process will allow Touchstone to bring products and services to our clients that no other provider will be able to touch," added Block.

Fanattik, founded in 2007 by Chad Reynolds, initially started as a experimental venture to build a consumer brand from scratch using CoCreation. This process provided the new brand with a collaborative structure to build products and services directly with the people who would eventually purchase them. "Consumers want to "co-create" and participate in a whole new way with the brands they invest in. Our philosophy translated into a new business model and brand platform, where everyone feels ownership in the end product and experience," states Reynolds. 

 

With the addition Beth Schlehr as Partner and Chief Operating Officer in June 2008, Fanattik started to build formal relationships with schools, teachers, parents and students. This collaboration takes place through an on and offline Internship Program, where students actually participate in the business through design, sales, marketing and innovation. "This presents a new and important opportunity for students outside of the classroom," states Schlehr. 

 

This unique approach has provided the partners with the opportunity to now scale the business across geographies and demographics. 

 

Touchstone founder, Derek Block, and principal owner Larry Sheakley, also see the potential.  "In such a short amount of time, their vision and execution have positioned the brand for greatness. Our combined efforts will provide capital, operations and the resources to now scale this innovative business into a household name. We are excited to be a part of it," states Block.

"Our entire staff, student interns and school partners have worked tirelessly to help get Fanattik to this point. Everyone here is looking forward to bringing this new level of involvement to additional schools and students across the country," says Schlehr.

 

As operations transition to Touchstone's Mason, OH (Cincinnati) based headquarters, new initiatives are already underway to accelerate the brand's growth and opportunity.

Mason, OH- Touchstone jumps seven places from it's 2009 ranking of #37 to #30 in 2010.

"We continue to make great strides at Touchstone," states Derek Block, CEO.  "To be growing in this enviroment is a true testament to all the great people working at Touchstone... and it's a by-product of the focus we've had (on our business)."

MASON, OH- Industry veteran, Linda Hamrick brings twenty plus years of experience to the Touchstone family.

 Linda Hamrick has joined Touchstone team as a Senior Account Executive. Touchstone is, a full service promotional marketing company with headquarters in Mason, Ohio, a Top 50 distributor and one of the Industry’s Best Places To Work..  Linda comes to us as a Certified Advertising Specialist with 25 years of industry experience, including previously owning her own promotional products business.      

Linda has exactly the type of character, commitment and professionalism that is the fabric of Touchstone."  We look forward to supporting her in her growth as a professional and supporting her client relationships with the extended services that Touchstone offers," comments Steve Paradiso, Touchstone COO.

 

“I have had the pleasure of working with Linda in the past and her knowledge and expertise, coupled with her dedication to her clients is unmatched,” states Dan Jellinek, VP Talent Acquisition.

 

“When I first met with the Touchstone team, I was very impressed with the level of professionalism and charisma they exuded.  It is transparent that each employee is valued and respected.  There is a sense of comradery among the group that is not common in the stereotypical sales environment. It is easy to see why they are recognized as one of the Industry’s Best Places to Work.  The recent awards they received for "Fastest Growing Distributor" and "Top 50 Distributor” only reinforces why I want to work for Touchstone. They work hard & take excellent care of their clients and their employees. It is obvious that they also know how to play hard and highly reinforce a real life balance.   It is a pleasure to know I am joining such dedicated, creative, hard working individuals and I am very proud to be joining the team. I look forward to great things ahead!"

Linda can be reached at 734.341.6926, or via email at lhamrick@tmgideas.com

Visit Touchstone at www.tmgideas.com.

 

 

Touchstone Sports Marketing Delivers Success for Las Vegas 51's Holly Madison bobblehead promotion.

In the Holly Madison bobble head night for the Las Vegas 51's, Touchstone Sports Marketing product delivers success.  "The bobblehead's that we product are unlike what's in the marketplace," stated Davy Slyby, Touchstone Sports Marketing Director.  "The process of our bobblehead development in so methodical starting with incredible design, to engineering level detail production illustrations, to life-like production that replicates the true likeness of the individual... this is something that is just not done and it's are real artform," added Slyby.

About Touchstone Sports Marketing:  Touchstone Sports Marketing division delivers sports related product to a broad range of team from the minor leagues of baseball, hockey, and soccer to all major leagues and large market teams.  Touchstones custom design and sourcing capabilities put TSM as the industry leading provider.

About Holly Madison:  Holly Madison Cullen (born December 23, 1979) is an American model and television personality, best known for appearing as Hugh Hefner's number one girlfriend with Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson on the reality TV series The Girls Next Door. Although not a Playboy Playmate, she has appeared in nude pictorials with her Girls Next Door costars and fellow Hefner girlfriends Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson. Her most recent work was as a contestant on the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars.

Mason-OH- Touchstone acquires C3 Marketing and welcomes Becky Cross, Kim Turner and Erica Smith to the Touchstone family.

Touchstone, Counselor’s fastest growing distributor for 2009 has acquired C3 Marketing, based in Atlanta, GA.

Becky Cross and C3 has been an Industry leader in the Atlanta Market for over 14 years.  Becky and her team have an impeccable reputation in the Atlanta area and will be a strong pillar for Touchstone to build around states Dan Jellinek, VP of Talent Acquisition.

“We are thrilled to have Becky as a part of our Leadership Team”, says Steve Paradiso COO of Touchstone.   From our first meeting with Becky, we knew she would be the perfect fit to lead our Atlanta initiative.  Her experience, professionalism and desire to build, exemplifies what Touchstone is all about. 

We are very excited to be part of such a creative and progressive company that is dedicated to seeing us succeed, explains Becky Cross.  We feel with the added capabilities Touchstone will provide, opportunities that previously we needed to shy away from are now a reality.   We are looking forward to growing our business with the help of Touchstone, as well as adding some new talent to the Atlanta office.

 Becky can be reached at 404.351.5818, or via email at bcross@tmgideas.com

Visit Touchstone at www.tmgideas.com.

Mason, OH- Touchstone will be in Orlando January 3^rd - 5^th and Las Vegas January 12^th – 15^th.

Mason, OH- Touchstone will be in Orlando January 3^rd - 5^th and Las Vegas January 12^th – 15^th.

 

Please contact Dan Jellinek at 646-279-7227 or Kari Backen at 513-770-5067 to schedule an appointment.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Detroit, MI - Touchstone welcomes Industry veteran Roberta Lash to the family.

Roberta Lash has been named Sr. Account Executive for Touchstone, a full service promotional marketing company with headquarters in Mason, Ohio, an Advertising Specialty Institute Top 50 distributor.  Roberta is based in Detroit, MI and was most recently a Strategic Account Executive at Workflow One.

About Touchstone:  Founded in 1996, Touchstone offers a full range of services to corporate clients including branded merchandise fulfillment programs, licensed merchandise development, loyalty programs, creative product development, direct importing, e-commerce solutions and consumer marketing campaigns.

For further information, please contact Steve Paradiso, Touchstone COO, at 513-741-0400, or at sparadiso@tmgideas.com.

Mason, OH- Touchstone named RIM's primary vendor for branded merchandise

Touchstone has just announced that has been awarded the contract by RIM, makers of the Blackberry, to be their preferred and primary vendor for branded merchandise.  Touchstone CEO Derek Block stated, “The leadership of RIM’s promotional product procurement team is visionary."  "Together we have developed a sustainable service model with full transparency... this puts RIM on the cutting edge of promotional product procurement."  Touchstone will service RIM's promotional product needs globally, with initial rollout for North America.  

 

In 2009, Touchstone has been recognized be the Advertising Specialty Institute as the industry’s Fastest Growning Company as well as one of the Best Places to Work.  On an individual basis, Block was awarded the prestigious Distributor Entrepreneur of the Year.

Block’s company, Touchstone had previously been Honored as One of the Cincinnati Business Courier's "Fast 55", recognizing the fastest 55 privately held business’s in the 15 County, tri state region.  Derek is also a member of the Business Couriers Top 40 under 40 class of 2007

About:  Founded in 1996, Touchstone offers a full range of services to corporate clients including branded merchandise fulfillment programs, licensed merchandise development, loyalty programs, creative product development, direct importing, e-commerce solutions and consumer marketing campaigns.

For further information, please contact Steve Paradiso, Touchstone COO at 513.741.0400 or  sparadiso@tmgideas.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oakland, CA- Touchstone expands into Northern California with industry professional Tonia Ho.

Tonia Ho has been named Account Executive for Touchstone, a full service promotional marketing company with headquarters in Mason, Ohio, an Advertising Specialty Institute Top 50 distributor.  Tonia is based in Oakland, CA and was most recently an Account Executive at The Vernon Company.

“Our strategic growth plan for California is an important focus of ours and Tonia is the first of many we will add in northern California,” comments Tad Webster, Touchstone Sr. Vice President.  “Tonia is an extremely creative individual with a passion and focus in using earth friendly merchandise for her client’s promotional campaigns.  We are thrilled to have her join the Touchstone team.” 

Tonia has 4 years of business experience in helping clients attain success with their sustainable branding initiatives, development of custom merchandise and marketing solutions.  She was also the recipient of a 2009 Bronze Pyramid award by the Promotional Products Association International, for a program developed for a client using recycled PVC lapel pins. 

 “It’s truly refreshing to become a member of such an innovative and resourceful team,” says Tonia.  “With clients now more than ever accountable for every dollar spent towards maximizing their brand awareness through the most responsible and effective ways possible, Touchstone remains unparalleled in pure talent, while offering a suite of solutions aimed to deliver effective results.  Such resources enable me to raise the benchmark in serving and exceeding the needs of my clients.”

To contact Tonia Ho, please call 510.290.2503, or via email at tho@tmgideas.com.