Assured Products Group

E Group and Assured Products Group Announce Strategic Partnership to Commercialize Authentication Assurance of Licensed Merchandise for Professional Sports Segment

Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 18, 2012—E Group will partner with Assured Products Group, based in Clearwater, Florida, to bring the technology company’s Authentication and Assurance and Trusted Trade EnvironmentsÔ products to the professional sports markets.  The combination of expertise in licensed merchandise, coupled with a comprehensive assurance program will reduce grey-market and counterfeit in a marketplace riddled with fraud.

“Our clients deal with millions of pieces of merchandise, many produced overseas, all with high real and collector value,” said Steve Waletzko,  Vice President Sales E Group, Inc.  “In sponsorship and pro sports marketing, autographed, limited edition items represent a significant sum in primary and secondary sales; having authentic merchandise can mean the difference between trash and treasure,” added Waletzko.

As with any intellectual property, the authenticity of an item also impacts who earns revenue when an item is sold.  “No one can argue against the athletes and organizations, who own the brands, deserve compensation for things which bear their image or name,” said Waletzko.  Counterfeit items steal real dollars from people—billions each year according to the US Justice Department.

“E Group has extensive expertise and reach into the pro-sports world,” said James Chester, CEO of Assured Products Group.  “The work that E Group does in NASCAR, NHL and the MLB can benefit from reducing counterfeit merchandise.  That ultimately protects the brand value of their customers, the sports teams and the fans who spend millions on merchandise.”

E Group and Assured Products Group will work together to bring the unique authentication products to professional sports teams, sponsors and manufacturers.  “Our customers come to us for better ways to help the fans get real value; this partnership helps us deliver on that,” said Waletzko.  “Stemming counterfeit production and sales also helps the economy and can preserve US jobs, for those items made in the United States.

About E Group

E Group is a full-service marketing agency, with a niche position in promotional, loyalty and sports marketing.  E Group collaborates with clients to help them create successful, industry-leading programs for consumers, employees and/or channel partners. As an official NASCAR promotional licensee, E Group works with sponsors, vendors and driver teams to maximize their promotional investment.  E Group is headquartered in Minneapolis; its home page is www.egroupnet.com.

 About Assured Products Group

Assured Products Group delivers business value through product centricity to meet the demands of multi-source, multi-national supply chains. We deliver specific consulting, sourcing, and software solutions to improve brand value from concept through consumption.

AHFA ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY’S FIRST SOFTWARE PLATFORM DESIGNED FOR COMPLIANCE AND LABELING REQUIREMENTS

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) announces a strategic partnership with Assured Products Group (APG) to assist its members with managing the many layers of regulatory compliance and labeling requirements associated with today’s ever growing number of environmental and safety laws.

APG gives regulators, vendors, retailers and consumers 24/7 access to compliance documentation, including chain of custody, general conformance certificates, Lacey Act documentation and more. All parties can verify product compliance on the web, via smart phone or in the store.

“Members will easily be able to produce certificates tied to specific products or production runs with supporting information for regulatory agencies and customers, while managing and archiving information in a secure-access, controlled environment,” explains AHFA Vice President Bill Perdue. “This industry first ‘compliance advisor’ program maintains up-to-date information on what needs to be done for compliance – and will save our members the time, expense and confusion of interpreting compliance requirements on their own.”

Members will receive tailored solutions based on their size, business focus and supply chain challenges, all at significantly discounted annual rates.

“This partnership gives AHFA members, as well as their customers, peace of mind,” says James Chester, CEO of APG. The company’s Assurance & Authentication program offers the following:

General Certificates of Conformity (GCC) and Certificates of Conformity (CoC). A factory creates the certificate in the APG system, and it becomes available online to retailers, suppliers and regulators.
CPSIA registration. The product registration page can be embedded in the manufacturer’s website, simplifying the customer notification process in the event of a safety advisory or recall.
Simplified record-keeping. The Assurance & Authentication program keeps companies in compliance with the law at all points in the supply chain, from production to product registration. With all documents safely stored in the APG system, there is no need to worry about an audit – all documentation is in one place.
Compliance advisor. The compliance advisor module tells companies which tests are needed for various products, according to the current law.
Records management. All GCC, CoC and testing certificates are stored in one place for access by interested parties. This also simplifies long term record retention.
24/7 access, worldwide. Manufacturers, retailers and the end consumers can verify product authenticity, origin and compliance via a smart phone or text message. All relevant information is tied together.

The American Home Furnishings Alliance, based in High Point, N.C., represents more than 200 leading furniture manufacturers and distributors, plus about 150 suppliers to the furniture industry worldwide.

About Assured Products Group: Assured Products Group delivers business value through precise solutions to the demands of multi-source, multi-national supply chains. www.apgrp.com

CHA Selects Assured Products Group to Address CPSIA Requirements

ELMWOOD PARK, New Jersey, October 30, 2009 – The Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) today announced a strategic partnership wit Assured Products Group to assist its members with CPSIA compliance and brand value. Three options provide members’ flexibility based on their size, regulatory requirements, and supply chain challenges. Each system provides levels of compliance and automation while providing consumers anywhere-anytime access to compliance information.

Consumers, vendors, retailers, and regulators are given venues to assure what, where, and how safe a product is on the web, via the phone, or in the store. Members can easily produce certificates tied to specific products or production runs with supporting information for regulatory agencies and stakeholders while managing, provisioning and archiving information.

The CHA, it’s members, and Assured Products Group are using proven program management and rapid implementation processes to adopt and deploy the solution in a matter of hours to days assuring the company, customer, and consumer that the CPSIA is being followed with minimum impact, expense, and without exposure. Members have access to computer-based training, automated installation, help, tutorials, and remote support during and after deployment. An innovative compliance advisor maintains up to date information on what must be done versus the confusion and expense of unnecessary testing or interpretation.

The CHA, it’s members, and Assured Products Group are committed to meeting the CPSIA with proven solutions for small, medium, and large businesses manufacturing products domestically or abroad. Compliance does not have to be confusing or expensive. This partnership provides assured products around the corner or around the world.

About Assured Products Group:

Assured Products Group provides real-world experience solving problems and delivering global, business value through enhanced process, people and technology to both industry and government. We deliver precise solutions to fulfill the sophisticated demands of multi-source, multi-national supply-chains through product assurance.

For additional information contact:

info@apgrp.com

Clearwater, FL., October 7, 2010—Assured Products Group, in partnership with The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), is offering a unique incentive to join the association during the 2010 ABC Show in Las Vegas. Dedicated to promoting the industry and the safe use of juvenile products, JPMA, founded in 1962, represents 95% of the prenatal to preschool market and some of the most successful companies in the industry.

In addition to the resources and contacts afforded to all members, new members who join during at the ABC Show will receive free personalized webinars on two chosen topics (see below for additional information) essential to the success of juvenile products manufacturers in today’s ever-evolving regulatory compliance environment.

Assured Products Group provides technology to JPMA members through its Cognitive Solutions’ division as a recognized leader in CPSC/CPSIA, CBP, and import/export solutions worldwide. The Brand Solutions division complements Cognitive Solutions with branding, sourcing, marketing, operations and launch services to meet the myriad evolving challenges facing businesses in domestic and international markets. In addition, new JPMA members will receive the CPSIA desktop applet, which feeds up-to-the-minute information on announced recalls and relevant juvenile products news.

“JPMA members are entitled to extensive rewards, including business-building education, cost-saving services, credibility and a strong foundation to succeed within the juvenile products industry,” said Mike Dwyer CAE, JPMA Executive Director. “Our members report that their involvement with JPMA facilitates networking and learning from peers, while helping them navigate regulatory complexities and components of the CPSIA. Assured Products Group is an invaluable resource with timely insights and solutions for evolving business and regulatory requirements. Now is a great time to become a member of JPMA!”

For Immediate Release

GAMA Selects Assured Products Group for Brand Value, Segment Growth, and Revenue Creation

COLUMBUS, Ohio, February 16, 2011 – The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today announced a ten-year strategic partnership with Assured Products Group to assist its members with brand protection, revenue generation, and inherent compliance. Using the Trusted Trade Environment™ (T2E™), members receive tailored solutions based on their size, business focus, and supply chain challenges to provide consumers anywhere-anytime access to product information, registration, transfer, and product assurance.

Consumers, vendors, retailers, and regulators are given access to verify product authenticity and compliance on the web, via smart phone, or in the store. Members can easily produce certificates tied to specific products or production runs with supporting information for regulatory agencies and customers while managing, provisioning and archiving information within a secure, access-controlled environment.  Consumers can safely and securely verify, purchase, and transfer ownership of real products, confident that they are not counterfeited, or production overruns.

An industry- first compliance advisor maintains up to date information on what must be done for compliance versus the confusion and expense of duplicative and unnecessary testing or interpretation.  The advisor also protects members from outdated document management systems using spyware to capture product sourcing information for global markets.

GAMA, its members, and Assured Products Group are committed to providing assured products for small, medium, and large businesses manufacturing products domestically or abroad.  This commitment provides consumers authenticated products around the corner or around the world.

About GAMA:

The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is the non-profit trade organization dedicated to serving the tabletop game industry. GAMA strengthens and supports all industry professionals by advancing their interests, providing educational programs and opportunities, and promoting our unique form of quality social entertainment.

About Assured Products Group:

Assured Products Group provides real-world experience solving problems and delivering global, business value through enhanced process, people and technology to both industry and government. We deliver precise solutions such as T2E™ and Assured Sourcing to fulfill the sophisticated demands of multi-source, multi-national supply-chains through product assurance while improving brand value and business revenue.   We Tell You What You Need To Know

For additional information contact Assured Products Group info@apgrp.com