9 replies to this topic

[billyk]

I just recieved my Hotline calendar sample kit & the shipping lable showed Brown & Bigalow out of Mn. Did they buy Hotline? I thought B&B was a distributor. billyk

[royster13]

For at least 10 years.....

[Wimco123]

I used to sell for Brown & Bigelow before switching to Kaeser & Blair. Hotline and Classic Line calendars were produced by Brown & Bigelow back then along with Hoyle playing cards. I saw playing cards being printed and coming off the press (very warm then). Wes

[AdmanGR]

Tru-Art Calendars and Bankers Advertising is a similar scenario

[billyk]

AdmanGR said:

Tru-Art Calendars and Bankers Advertising is a similar scenario

What better way to sell to distributors than to be a distributor! billyk

[HeyBrakes]

B&B owns Hotline, same building, same floor. B&B would have you believe the companies are operated independently. Be VERY careful. I "affiliated" with B&B, and became the rookie of the year in three months time (have the plaques, pens, etc., to prove it), then fired them for breach of agreement. But that didn't stop them from going after my calendar customer list, and also trying to sell my customers out of the Minneapolis office. They gave up after 18 months.

If you need calendars...my experience is that Beacon Promotions runs circles around Hotline on conceivable level.

[billyk]

HeyBrakes said:

B&B owns Hotline, same building, same floor. B&B would have you believe the companies are operated independently. Be VERY careful. I "affiliated" with B&B, and became the rookie of the year in three months time (have the plaques, pens, etc., to prove it), then fired them for breach of agreement. But that didn't stop them from going after my calendar customer list, and also trying to sell my customers out of the Minneapolis office. They gave up after 18 months.

If you need calendars...my experience is that Beacon Promotions runs circles around Hotline on conceivable level.

Don't you sign an agreement that your customers are your own? We do with K&B. Don't know how Pro Forma or the others do it. It seems that if that were the case, word would spread quickly thus damaging their reputation. billyk

[AdmanGR]

billyk said:

Don't you sign an agreement that your customers are your own? We do with K&B. Don't know how Pro Forma or the others do it. It seems that if that were the case, word would spread quickly thus damaging their reputation. billyk

Billy,

K&B dealers have the luxury of being affiliated with the only Top 20 or Top 40, for that matter, distributor that has a truly non-binding agreement.

I do not actively promote Hotline and sell an occasional Tru-Art order - have never felt that they were going after the business directly.

Rob

[DBeavers]

I've shown the "Classic" line a few times over the years, but use Rocket Line for the jumbo calendars.

I've sold Hotline calendars for at least a decade now. They offer us the same 2 year exclusive they offer their own reps. You sell as 2011 calendar order from Hotline or Classic, and they won't accept your customer's order from any other distributor for the renewal. At least that's the way I understand it.

Hasn't ever been an issue for me.

I've got a couple customers that were impressed with the free 'full-color' imprint offer Hotline has made the past couple years to introduce their full-color service to more distributors/clients.

Dennis

[Admin]

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