Sonic Promos Wins Silver Peake Award for Northwest High School Prize Wheel Campaign

We’re thrilled to share that Sonic Promos has been recognized with a Silver Award in the Consumer Programs category at the 2025 Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA) Peake Awards. This honor celebrates our creative promotional campaign for Northwest High School, where we designed and executed an interactive prize wheel experience that transformed school spirit merchandise into an engaging, memorable experience for students and parents. The Challenge: Boosting School Spirit and Merchandise Sales Northwest High School came to us with a common challenge facing schools everywhere: how to increase engagement at sporting events while driving traffic to their school merchandise store. They wanted something more exciting than typical promotional giveaways—they needed an experience that would energize the crowd, create buzz, and generate tangible results for their PTSA-operated online store. With a modest budget of $1,500, we needed to create maximum impact. The target audience was high school students and their parents attending a Friday night football game, a captive audience already in school spirit mode. The question was: how could we turn that energy into lasting engagement and sales? Our Solution: An Interactive Digital Prize Wheel Experience We designed a multi-touchpoint promotional campaign centered around an interactive digital prize wheel. Instead of simply handing out promotional items, we created an experience that combined branded merchandise with strategic digital engagement. The promotional products included custom Northwest Jaguars branded t-shirts and sweatshirts, along with discount coupons worth $5 off purchases at the school’s online merchandise store. But the real innovation was in the delivery method. During the football game, cheerleaders held up posters featuring QR codes throughout the stadium. When attendees scanned these codes with their smartphones, they were directed to a custom-branded prize wheel landing page. After entering their name and email (automatically added to the Northwest High School newsletter), participants could spin the digital wheel to win their prize instantly. Winners received a congratulations screen showing exactly what they’d won, then headed to the stadium merchandise booth to pick up their items—creating an immediate connection between the digital experience and physical merchandise. The Results: 300 Participants and 25% Sales Increase The campaign exceeded expectations across every metric. Over 300 people participated in the prize wheel during a single football game, generating substantial email list growth for Northwest High School’s ongoing communications. Most importantly, merchandise sales increased by 25% that night compared to previous games—a significant boost that demonstrated the power of engaging promotional experiences over passive giveaways. The combination of immediate prizes and discount coupons created both instant gratification and future purchase incentives. Kim, the Northwest High School PTSA President, summed up the client experience: “This was so much fun and I would definitely want to do it again! For the people that won, they have had very positive feedback and we definitely saw some traffic in the online store using the discount. Thank you so much for your sponsorship and support! We value your partnership and commitment to making Northwest great!” Why This Campaign Earned Recognition The CPPA Peake Awards recognize excellence in promotional products campaigns, and our Northwest High School prize wheel demonstrated several key elements that make promotional programs successful: Strategic Integration: Rather than treating promotional products as standalone items, we integrated them into a complete experience that connected digital engagement, physical products, and ongoing marketing objectives. Measurable Results: By tracking participation numbers, email signups, and sales increases, we could demonstrate clear ROI for the client’s investment. Creative Execution: The QR code and digital prize wheel approach turned passive spectators into active participants, creating memorable brand interactions that traditional giveaways can’t match. Appropriate Scale: We designed a campaign that fit the client’s budget while delivering outsized impact through smart strategy rather than bulk spending. The Boutique Advantage in Promotional Programs This award-winning campaign exemplifies why boutique promotional products distributors deliver superior results compared to large online catalog companies. When Northwest High School partnered with Sonic Promos, they didn’t just order products—they gained a dedicated creative partner who understood their goals and designed a custom solution. Large online distributors can fulfill product orders, but they don’t strategize campaigns. They don’t consider how promotional items integrate with digital experiences, or how to maximize engagement within budget constraints. They certainly don’t provide the art services needed to create custom-branded digital prize wheels with school mascots and colors. Our approach starts with understanding what success looks like for each client. For Northwest High School, success meant both immediate merchandise sales and long-term email list growth. We designed every element of the campaign—from product selection to distribution method—around those specific objectives. Lessons from an Award-Winning Promotional Campaign If you’re planning promotional programs for your organization, here are key insights from this Silver Award-winning campaign: Think beyond the product itself. The t-shirts and sweatshirts were quality branded merchandise, but the prize wheel experience made them memorable and desirable. Consider how you can create engagement around your promotional items. Connect digital and physical touchpoints. The QR code bridge from smartphone to prize wheel to physical merchandise booth created a seamless experience that kept participants engaged throughout the journey. Build in future value. The $5 discount coupons ensured that even after the event ended, participants had reasons to return to the school store. One-time promotional events should create ongoing opportunities. Make participation easy and fun. Scanning a QR code and spinning a digital wheel required minimal effort but delivered maximum engagement. Remove barriers between your audience and their participation. Track everything. By measuring participation numbers, email capture rates, and sales increases, we could quantify success and prove ROI. Whatever you can measure, you can improve. Ready to Create Award-Winning Promotional Campaigns? Whether you’re a school organization looking to boost merchandise sales, a business planning a product launch, or a marketing professional seeking creative promotional solutions, Sonic Promos brings the strategic thinking and creative execution that turns ordinary promotional products into award-winning experiences. Our dedicated brand managers work with you to understand your specific goals, then design custom campaigns that deliver measurable results. From concept development

Sonic Promos Wins Gold Peake Award for Southern Management New Employee Welcome Kits

We’re proud to announce that Sonic Promos has been awarded a Gold Award in the Internal Communication Program category at the 2025 Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA) Peake Awards. This prestigious recognition celebrates our comprehensive new employee welcome kit program for Southern Management Companies, a nine-year partnership that has transformed their onboarding experience and contributed to exceptional employee retention rates. The Challenge: Creating a Memorable First Impression Southern Management Companies, one of the largest residential property management companies in the Mid-Atlantic region, approached us with a critical objective: welcome new employees to the company in a way that would increase satisfaction and retention from day one. They needed more than just promotional products—they needed a strategic onboarding solution that would embody their company culture and values. With a budget of $15,000, our task was to create welcome kits that new hires would actually use, appreciate, and remember. The target audience was diverse: new employees joining Southern Management across various roles in property management, maintenance, leasing, and corporate functions. Each item needed to be office-friendly, practical, and aligned with Southern Management’s commitment to creating a supportive workplace culture. Our Solution: A Thoughtfully Curated Welcome Experience We designed a comprehensive six-item welcome kit that transforms the first day at Southern Management into a memorable brand experience. Each new employee receives a Wave Sling Bag containing carefully selected items that serve both immediate practical needs and long-term engagement goals. The kit includes a Textari Style Pen for note-taking, a Hand Sanitizer for workplace wellness, a Two-Tone Himalayan Tumblerfor daily hydration, a custom-designed Ambassador Journal with custom insert pages and a uniquely branded set of custom playing cards. But these aren’t just random promotional items thrown together. Each element was strategically chosen because it’s office-friendly and useful to any position hired by the company. The items are presented halfway through Southern Management’s full-day new hire orientation called “Southern Beginnings,” creating a moment of excitement and appreciation that breaks up the day’s training sessions. The Strategic Details That Make the Difference What elevates this program beyond standard swag is the integration of strategic storytelling elements. The custom journal includes insert pages featuring a welcome letter from CEO Suzanne Hillman, an overview of Southern Management’s history and growth, and detailed information about the company’s Mission, Vision, and Values—specifically their “Three Rs” (do the right things, in the right ways, for the right reasons) and “Three Ms” (make the decision that is best for my mission, my team, and myself, in that order). The custom playing cards deserve special recognition for their innovative design. Instead of standard face cards, they feature photos of Southern Management’s various properties and long-term employees who have advanced within the organization. The deck’s Joker card includes a QR code that links to a landing page highlighting career advancement stories—employees who have grown into roles such as property manager, vice president, and director. This creative approach serves multiple purposes: it familiarizes new hires with Southern Management’s property portfolio in a fun, memorable way, illustrates the company’s commitment to promoting from within, and provides inspiration about potential career paths. During the orientation, new team members actually use these cards as part of activities that help them learn about growth opportunities at the company. The Results: Nine Years of Proven Success This program has been running for nine years and has proven to be tremendously successful. According to Jessica, Senior Learning and Development Specialist at Southern Management University, employees continue to use their welcome kit items long after their first day. The visible, ongoing use of branded items reinforces company identity and creates a sense of belonging. Most significantly, Southern Management prides itself on its high retention rate, which this welcoming onboarding experience helps maintain. When new team members receive their kits during the orientation, Jessica reports that “the smiles, oohs, and ahhs, show the team members’ excitement for the items they have received.” The program supports Southern Management’s broader culture of growth and development. As a company that operates more than 520 apartment communities with over 25,000 apartment homes across the region, they’ve built a reputation for their award-winning training curriculum and “grow from within” philosophy. The welcome kits tangibly reinforce this culture from the very first day, showing new hires that they’re joining an organization that invests in their success and values their contribution. Why Internal Communication Programs Matter This Gold Award-winning campaign demonstrates why internal communication deserves the same strategic attention as external marketing. Your employees are your most important audience, and how you welcome them sets the tone for their entire employment experience. Research consistently shows that effective onboarding programs improve employee retention, increase productivity, and accelerate the time it takes for new hires to reach full performance. Yet many organizations treat onboarding as a box-checking exercise rather than a strategic opportunity to build engagement and loyalty from day one. Southern Management understands that promotional products aren’t just freebies—they’re tangible expressions of company values and culture. When thoughtfully selected and strategically deployed, branded items create touchpoints that reinforce key messages throughout the employee journey. The Boutique Approach to Internal Communications This award-winning program exemplifies the difference between working with a boutique promotional products partner versus ordering from an online catalog. Southern Management didn’t just need someone to fulfill a product order—they needed a strategic partner who could understand their culture, objectives, and audience. Our approach began with deep discovery conversations about Southern Management’s onboarding process, company values, and retention goals. We considered the full employee experience: What would make someone feel welcomed? What items would they actually use? How could we integrate promotional products with the broader onboarding curriculum? What touchpoints would create the most impact? The custom playing cards with QR code integration showcase our creative problem-solving and design capabilities. This wasn’t a standard catalog product—it required custom design work, strategic thinking about how to gamify company information, and technical execution to integrate the digital component seamlessly. Large online distributors simply don’t provide this level of creative development and

Sonic Promos Wins Bronze Peake Award for Annual Pet Calendar Goodwill Program

We’re delighted to share that Sonic Promos has received a Bronze Award in the Goodwill Program category at the 2025 Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA) Peake Awards. This recognition celebrates our annual pet calendar program, now in its eighth year, which has become our most popular self-promotion campaign and a beloved tradition among our clients and their furry family members. The Challenge: Building Lasting Client Relationships Through Shared Values In the promotional products industry, staying top-of-mind with clients requires more than just quality service and competitive pricing. It demands genuine connection, creative thinking, and shared experiences that transcend typical business relationships. We needed a self-promotion strategy that would increase goodwill with our client base while reflecting our values and creating something clients would actually use and appreciate throughout the year. With a modest budget of $5,000, our objective was clear: increase goodwill with our clients through a meaningful, engaging campaign that would strengthen our relationships and demonstrate the creative capabilities we bring to their projects. The target audience was our current client base—businesses and organizations we’ve partnered with who trust us with their promotional product needs. Our Solution: An Interactive Custom Pet Calendar Experience We created an annual tradition that celebrates what so many of our clients hold dear: their pets. Every year, we invite our clients through social media posts, newsletters, and direct email to submit photos of their beloved pets to be featured in our custom 13-month wall calendar from Tradenet. The submission process is simple but engaging. Clients submit pet photos through a Google form during a one-month collection period. We send weekly reminders throughout the month to encourage participation, creating anticipation and keeping Sonic Promos top-of-mind during the submission window. Once submissions close, the real curation work begins. We review every single submission, often choosing one photo out of ten different shots of the same pet to ensure we showcase each animal at their best. The selected photos are compiled and sent to our art team, who arrange them in a grid format so pets are equally distributed across each month of the calendar. But the creativity doesn’t stop with photo selection. Our art team designs an overall theme for each year’s calendar, transforming it from a simple promotional item into a collectible piece. The 2025 calendar featured a “GigaPets/Tamagotchi” theme, tapping into nostalgic ’90s digital pet culture. Previous years have included a Taylor Swift Eras tour theme and a space exploration theme, each with coordinated color palettes and design elements that tie every page together. The Results: Eight Years of Growing Engagement and Client Delight The numbers tell a powerful story of success and growth. Our 2025 calendar featured 195 pet photos—up from just a handful in year one. Every year, submissions grow as more clients participate and word spreads about this beloved tradition. It has become, by far, our most popular self-promotion campaign. Clients actively ask us when submissions will open and whether they can submit extras. The calendar creates touchpoints throughout the entire year. Every person who submits a pet photo is guaranteed to receive a calendar, ensuring their furry friend is represented. We also send calendars to all our clients and prospects from the previous year as a thoughtful gift that keeps our brand visible in their offices for twelve months. Beyond the immediate engagement, the calendar has generated tangible business results. We’ve received six orders for custom pet calendars from clients since starting this program, directly attributed to the inspiration they drew from our annual calendar. When clients see the quality, creativity, and emotional connection our calendar creates, they immediately understand how similar campaigns could work for their own organizations. Adding a Charitable Component: Supporting Animal Welfare For our fifth anniversary calendar, we expanded the program’s impact by adding a charitable giving component. We invited participants to donate five dollars or more to the Maryland Humane Society in exchange for an extra gift: a personalized magnet featuring their pet’s photo printed on it. The response demonstrated our clients’ generosity and love for animals. Through this initiative, we raised $300 for the Maryland Humane Society while creating an additional keepsake that participants could display on their refrigerators, file cabinets, or office whiteboards. The personalized magnets became conversation starters that further extended the campaign’s reach as clients showed off their pets to colleagues and visitors. This charitable element aligned perfectly with the values many of our clients share and reinforced Sonic Promos’ commitment to giving back to the community. It transformed a client appreciation campaign into a force for good, supporting an organization that cares for animals in need. Why Goodwill Programs Drive Long-Term Business Success This Bronze Award-winning campaign illustrates an important principle: the best promotional programs create emotional connections, not just brand impressions. When businesses invest in goodwill programs that align with their clients’ values and interests, they build relationships that transcend transactional interactions. Pet owners form deep emotional bonds with their animals. By featuring clients’ pets in our calendar, we’re not just putting our logo in front of them—we’re celebrating something they love and creating a keepsake they’ll treasure. When a client sees their dog or cat featured in a beautifully designed calendar that sits on their desk all year, they remember that Sonic Promos cared enough to make that happen. This emotional resonance creates loyalty that price competition can’t overcome. When it’s time to order promotional products, clients who feel genuinely appreciated and connected to their vendor are far more likely to return, even if they could find marginally lower prices elsewhere. The Strategic Value of Self-Promotion Campaigns Many businesses overlook self-promotion, focusing all their marketing energy on acquiring new clients rather than deepening relationships with existing ones. Yet research consistently shows that retaining existing clients is far more cost-effective than acquiring new ones, and satisfied clients become enthusiastic referral sources. Our pet calendar program demonstrates how strategic self-promotion serves multiple business objectives simultaneously. It keeps our brand visible throughout the year, showcases our creative and production capabilities,

Celebrating Excellence – Jay Shaplin Wins Distributor Sales Representative of the Year

Celebrating Excellence: Jay Shaplin Wins Distributor Sales Representative of the Year at the 2025 Peake Awards Sonic Promos kicks off 2026 with a major industry recognition as Senior Brand Manager Jay Shaplin takes home top honors from the Chesapeake Promotional Product Association. Introduction: A Momentous Achievement in the Promotional Products Industry The promotional products industry thrives on creativity, relationship-building, and an unwavering commitment to client success. When these qualities converge in a single professional, extraordinary things happen. We’re thrilled to announce that Jay Shaplin, Senior Brand Manager at Sonic Promos, has been named Distributor Sales Representative of the Year at the Chesapeake Promotional Product Association’s prestigious 2025 Peake Awards. This recognition isn’t just a personal achievement for Jay—it’s a testament to the culture of excellence that defines Sonic Promos and the exceptional service our clients receive every day. As we step into 2026, this award sets the tone for what promises to be another outstanding year of helping businesses amplify their brands through strategic promotional products. Understanding the Peake Awards: The Gold Standard in Regional Recognition The Chesapeake Promotional Product Association (CPPA) has long been a cornerstone organization for promotional products professionals in the Mid-Atlantic region. Their annual Peake Awards ceremony represents the pinnacle of industry recognition, celebrating individuals and companies that demonstrate exceptional performance, innovation, and dedication to their craft. The Distributor Sales Representative of the Year award is particularly competitive, recognizing professionals who have demonstrated outstanding sales performance, client relationship management, and contribution to the industry. Recipients of this award are evaluated on multiple criteria, including: Sales growth and revenue generation Client satisfaction and retention rates Innovation in product solutions and campaign strategies Professional development and industry involvement Peer recognition and collaborative spirit Winning this award places Jay Shaplin among an elite group of promotional products professionals who have made significant impacts on their clients, companies, and the industry at large. Meet Jay Shaplin: The Professional Behind the Achievement As a Senior Brand Manager at Sonic Promos, Jay Shaplin brings a unique combination of strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and genuine passion for helping clients succeed. His approach to promotional products goes far beyond simple transactions—he views each client relationship as an opportunity to become a true brand partner. What sets Jay apart in a competitive industry is his commitment to understanding each client’s unique challenges and objectives. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, he takes the time to dive deep into brand identities, target audiences, and marketing goals. This consultative approach ensures that every promotional product campaign delivers measurable results and genuine value. Jay’s expertise spans a wide range of industries and promotional product categories, from corporate gifting and trade show merchandise to employee recognition programs and customer appreciation campaigns. His ability to navigate complex projects while maintaining attention to detail has earned him the trust and loyalty of clients throughout the region. Beyond his client work, Jay has been an active contributor to the promotional products community, sharing his knowledge and supporting fellow professionals in their growth. This commitment to the broader industry is precisely what organizations like the CPPA seek to recognize and celebrate. What This Award Means for Sonic Promos Clients When you work with an award-winning brand manager like Jay Shaplin, you’re not just getting a vendor—you’re gaining access to industry-leading expertise and a proven track record of success. This recognition from the CPPA validates what our clients have experienced firsthand: exceptional service, creative solutions, and results that exceed expectations. At Sonic Promos, we believe that awards like this reflect our entire team’s commitment to excellence. While Jay is receiving this individual recognition, his success is built upon a foundation of collaborative teamwork, robust supplier relationships, and a company culture that prioritizes client satisfaction above all else. For businesses seeking promotional products partners, working with recognized industry leaders offers several advantages: Proven expertise: Award-winning professionals have demonstrated their ability to deliver results consistently. Industry connections: Top performers maintain strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring access to the best products and pricing. Creative innovation: Recognition often comes from thinking outside the box and delivering unique solutions. Reliability: Consistent excellence requires dependable processes and attention to detail. Looking Ahead: Starting 2026 with Momentum This Peake Award victory is more than a celebration of past achievements—it’s a launching pad for an exciting year ahead. At Sonic Promos, we’re entering 2026 with renewed energy and commitment to helping businesses of all sizes leverage the power of promotional products. Whether you’re planning a major trade show presence, launching an employee recognition program, or seeking creative ways to strengthen customer relationships, our team of experienced brand managers is ready to help. Jay Shaplin’s award-winning approach to client service represents the standard we uphold across our entire organization. Conclusion: Partner with Excellence Congratulations once again to Jay Shaplin on this well-deserved recognition. We’re incredibly proud to have him on the Sonic Promos team, and we’re excited to see what he and our entire team will accomplish in the year ahead. Ready to experience award-winning service for your next promotional products project? Whether you’d like to work with Jay or connect with another talented brand manager on our team, we’re here to help bring your brand vision to life. Visit sonicpromos.com to get in touch and discover the Sonic Promos difference. Contact Jay Shaplin at Sonic Promos today and let’s start building something great together.

Press Release: Sonic Promos Wins Distributor of the Year

For immediate release: Sonic Promos Wins Three Industry Awards: Distributor of the Year, Excellence in Promotions–Gold, and Excellence in Promotions–Silver At the Chesapeake Promotional Product Associations Annual Awards, Sonic Promos took home the top prize for distributors. Gaithersburg, MD— December 11, 2023 — The Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA) hosted it’s annual Peake Awards ceremony and dinner last week. The Peake awards honor excellence and creativity in our association and industry. Awards are presented in thirteen categories that recognize individuals, companies and promotional campaigns. Sonic Promos won in three categories: Distributor of the Year, Excellence in Promotions-Gold, and Excellence in Promotions-Silver. Distributor of the Year is an award that distributor and supplier members of CPPA vote on collectively, honoring the promotional products distributor that best represents the work and industry as a whole. Excellence in Promotions are judged categories. Gold and Silver are awarded based on points earned for each campaign nominated to the award. Sonic Promos winning project for the Excellence in Promotions–Gold Award, was it’s Grill’a Marketing campaign. The campaign had a series of online videos where promotional products marketing and grilling techniques were compared to one another. The winning project for the Excellence in Promotions–Silver Award is the Southern Management Companies custom card deck. The custom card deck was designed by the Sonic Promos art team as an educational tool for the client. It featured images of properties, staff members, and facts about the culture at Southern Management Companies. Sonic Promos was founded in 1997 by Seth Weiner who is also the CEO and President. In response to winning the award, Seth says, “We are truly honored to be recognized as the 2023 CPPA Distributor of the Year. This year, Sonic has demonstrated exceptional growth, innovation, and service that makes us worthy of this recognition. Our team has shown remarkable resilience, dedication, and performance.” About CPPA: The Chesapeake Promotional Products Association is the DC-Baltimore metro area’s regional membership organization for promotional products professionals. It is a regional affiliate of the PPAI. Every year suppliers and distributors gather to nominate and vote for winners in a variety of categories for the annual Peake Awards. About Sonic Promos: Founded in 1997, Sonic Promos is an award-winning branding agency based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Sonic Promos provides creative marketing solutions to an ever-growing number of local, national and international companies and organizations. Media Contact: Mallory Scott Director of Marketing, Sonic Promos 301.717.8257 mallory@sonicpromos.com

Sonic Promos’ Madi Evens Wins Rising Star Award

Gaithersburg, MD— February 14, 2023 — The Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA) awarded Sonic Promos’ Brand Manager Madi Evens its 2023 Rising Star Award. This award is presented to an up-and-coming promotional professional who brings new ideas, dedication and enthusiasm to both their company and the industry. Rising Star nominees must be employed in the promotional products industry five years or less from the date of nomination. Madi Evens grew up in Branchburg, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2020 with a degree in Advertising, concentrating on business. She joined Sonic Promos in 2021 as a sales assistant, moving to the DC Metro area in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since joining Sonic Promos, Evens has proven invaluable as a dedicated member of the in-office team. She assists two of Sonic’s senior sales reps and maintains her own client relationships as well. Her favorite client project put her on-site in Florida to assist with an event activation. The client wanted to enhance their annual conference by allowing employees to “shop” for branded gear. Sonic worked with our apparel and decorating partners to create a “Fit Kit” that allowed employees to participate in a live personal-shopping experience. During the event, Evens and the Sonic team helped each recipient choose their individual style, size and color before placing their order. In response to being named the 2023 Rising Star, Evens says “I am so thankful and grateful for this award. It is really nice to know that my hard work has been recognized by others.” The Chesapeake Promotional Products Association is the DC-Baltimore metro area’s regional membership organization for promotional products professionals. It is a regional affiliate of the PPAI. The Peake Awards mark their annual celebration of exemplary people and projects within the promotional industry. Sonic Promos was founded in 1997 and is an award-winning branded product agency based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Sonic Promos provides brand marketing and engagement services for Enterprise Level organizations. In addition to branded merch, they design and support projects such as new client/staff onboarding, sales and lead generation, recognition, kitting & fulfillment, online company stores, on-site event engagement, product activations and corporate uniform programs.   ###   For more information, press only: Mallory Scott mallory@sonicpromos.com   For more information on Madi Evens https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-evens-3274ab16b/ madi@sonicpromos.com   For more information on Sonic Promos: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonic-promos https://www.sonicpromos.com 301.869.7800

Sonic Promos’ Jay Shaplin Inducted into Hall of Fame

Gaithersburg, MD— February 9, 2023 — The Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA) inducted Sonic Promos’ Senior Branding and Vendor Relations Manager Jay Shaplin into the CPPA Hall of Fame. The CPPA Hall of Fame was founded in 2007. When presenting the award, Jeff Franklin said, “The Hall of Fame recognizes those who exemplify what it means to be an ambassador for the industry and for their professional peers and for the community.” Jay Shaplin graduated from Millersville University in 1990 with a degree in Art but he entered the industry long before that. At 7 he was helping his mother in her T-Shirt Shop with the irons-ons for shirts. At 16 he worked as a screen maker and cleaner for a local screenprinter. After graduation, he continued to work in the industry from printer to promotional products distributor. Since then he’s worked in a variety of roles, including gained his Master Advertising Specialist certification and owned his own promotional products business for a decade until joining Sonic Promos in 2016. Shaplin’s client base is diverse and multinational. His attention to detail and creative solutions have made him a trusted vendor to all who work with him. He also regularly volunteers and attends events that the CPPA, Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), and Promo Products Industry Association (PPAI) organize for industry professionals. The president of Sonic Promos, Seth Weiner, says “Sonic has been privileged to witness the efforts of an extraordinary career in promo that we continue to see and we hope will continue to keep going. In addition to being one of the most educated and insightful members of this industry Jay operates the right way. His consistent effort resonates with our team and our clients, along with his contributions within our company…Jay is a great teammate and a tremendous representative of Sonic outside of the office.” The Chesapeake Promotional Products Association is the DC-Baltimore metro area’s regional membership organization for promotional products professionals. It is a regional affiliate of the PPAI. The Hall of Fame is not awarded every year and the nominating process is thorough. Those who win are highly regarded in their field and celebrated by their industry peers. Sonic Promos was founded in 1997 and is an award-winning branded product agency based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. ### For more information, press only: Mallory Scott mallory@sonicpromos.com For more information on Jay Shaplin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayshaplin/ jay@sonicpromos.com For more information on Sonic Promos: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonic-promos https://www.sonicpromos.com 301.869.7800

Press Release: Sonic Promos’ Kaitlyn Rygula Wins Industry “Up-and-Comer of the Year”

For Immediate Release April 6, 2022 Sonic Promos’ Kaitlyn Rygula Wins Industry “Up-and-Comer of the Year” Gaithersburg, MD— April 6, 2022 — The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) named Sonic Promos’ Brand Manager Kaitlyn Rygula as Up-and Comer of the Year for 2022. The list of winners has been released online and awards will be sent to winners of each category. Kaitlyn Rygula graduated from Hofstra University in 2017 and joined Sonic Promos in 2019. She never imagined herself in sales but after being hired as an assistant to Sonic Promos CEO Seth Weiner, she began building her own book of business. She uses a methodical approach to prospecting that involves heavy online research and targeted email blasts. Once she’s made a connection, her strategy is simple: Get to know clients and find out what’s going on in their lives. She notes down birthdays and asks after children and pets. But she also goes deeper, figuring out the best ways to communicate with each of her clients. Rygula’s favorite project to date was a fanny pack she helped create for Jamie Greenberg, a celebrity makeup artist in California. Greenberg was launching a new line, and to promote it, she wanted 500 custom fanny packs in her brand colors to send to celebrity clients. Sonic Promos worked with Greenberg’s team for about a month, getting the design placement just right and ordering preproduction samples to ensure everything was perfect. The day of the launch, stars like Chelsea Handler posted Instagram pics featuring the fanny pack Rygula had helped usher into being. “It was just really cool seeing it in the real world,” she says.   The Advertising Specialty Institute is largest industry membership organization for promotional products professionals. The ASI Awrads are highly regarded by all members and the process is competitive. It announces awards in multiple categories every year for both distributors and vendor partners. Awardees go on to have distinguished careers in the industry. In response to winning the award, Rygula says, “I am so humbled to have received this award. It feels so awesome to be recognized, and it is validating that hard work does pay off.” She is on track to surpass her sales from 2021, continuing her trajectory of remarkable growth at Sonic Promos. Sonic Promos was founded in 1997 and is an award-winning branded product agency based in Gaithersburg, Maryland.   ### The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, press only: Mallory Scott mallory@sonicpromos.com For more information on Kaitlyn Rygula: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-hannon/ kaitlyn@sonicpromos.com For more information on Sonic Promos: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonic-promos https://www.sonicpromos.com 301.869.7800