Geiger Named "Family Business of the Year"

Kingwood, TX, April 18, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Independent promotional products consultant, Ted Baida, a 25-year Kingwood resident, announces that the company he “chose” to represent as a “sales partner” 15-years ago has recently won another award.

Geiger has been named "Family Business of The Year" by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI). The announcement and presentation of the special recognition took place on March 19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center during The ASI Show's Spirit Awards with Jay Leno LIVE!

Gene Geiger, CAS, President, Peter Geiger, Executive Vice President, and 5th generation family member, Jeffrey Geiger, were presented the award by ASI Board Chair, Norman Cohn and daughter Stephanie Cohn Shaeffer.

In his presentation remarks, Norman Cohn said, "The company has established a collection of values called "The Geiger Way®" which is all about respect: for employees, their sales force, their vendors, and their clients. The Geiger Way embraces a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and giving back to the community. It's clear that Geiger gets it! [Their slogan]"

Gene Geiger responded warmly, "This wonderful recognition is not about the company's owners. It appreciates and celebrates the accomplishments of entire Geiger business family – the Associates and Sales Partners, who work so tirelessly in service to our clients across the country."

The Advertising Specialty Institute is the largest organization supporting the advertising specialty industry (now known as the promotional products industry), currently with sales of almost $19-billion, it’s highest ever. The ASI Spirit Award recognizes companies that excel in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Geiger was founded in Newark, NJ in 1878, the same year that Thomas Edison produced the first light bulb. Now based in Lewiston, ME, Geiger is the largest family owned and managed promotional products distributor in the U.S. Geiger operates 15 divisional offices and is affiliated with over 550 independent sales partners across the country. Geiger is a fourth-generation company, with 500 full-time employees and in 2006 it reported revenues of over 146 million dollars.

Brothers, Andrew and Jacob Geiger, hung out their shop's sign a little more than a decade after the Civil War, selling novelties, printed calendars and other printed executive gifts. In addition to their love for advertising specialties, Raymond Geiger, father of Gene, its current President, published the now world famous Farmers’ Almanac® with his brother, Frank. It contained advice on weather, gardening, planting, astronomical phenomena, and its yearly collection of maxims and advice. Raymond served as editor of the almanac for 60-years, with his younger son, Peter, taking over those duties upon his death. You will see Peter’s name on its cover. Geiger is also an internationally recognized manufacturer of time management planners and organizers under the “byGeiger(.com)” name.

Among the company's recent awards are the Margaret Chase Smith Maine Quality Awards, Level 1 and Level 11, the Maine Cornerstone Award for businesses that contribute to the local and state economies, as well as to their communities, and 2006 Best Places to Work in Maine.

In January, Geiger's creative sales consultants garnered 5 Pyramid awards at this year’s PPAI Pyramid Awards; the highest of anyone and 4 more than the next closest; plus one additional Pyramid award for their own corporate web site www.geiger.com.

Ted says, “I am proud of Geiger's accomplishments and being associated with such a well-liked, dedicated and caring family such as Geiger is a feather in my cap as well as the caps of my clients.” Geiger has earned an extremely high reputation among all its production partners (the major suppliers and manufacturers of our industry). Each offers Geiger their best service and pricing, and Ted adds, “I am proud to pass this clout along to the community I serve.”

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