Jonny Auping

Dallas

Briefly an editor, still a writer. Bylines at Texas Monthly, New Yorker, Longreads, Rolling Stone, VICE, NY Mag, D Magazine, Slate, Dallas Morning News, etc.

Articles

Joseph G. Lipic, Sr. Of Alexander Manufacturing

6 days ago | ppai.org | Jonny Auping

Joseph G. Lipic, Sr, MAS, president of Alexander Manufacturing (PPAI 113670), passed away peacefully on May 23. Lipic, who was 89, was a nearly 60-year veteran of the promo industry. His great-grandfather started a promo company in 1863 "in a one-room shop on the Mississippi riverfront." Lipic continued that legacy, living and working out of St. Louis his entire life. He served on the PPAI Board of Directors, concluding his term in 1986.
New Member Spotlight: Dagne Dover

6 days ago | ppai.org | Jonny Auping

Melissa MashFounder & CEODagneDover.comPPAI 892617How did your company get its start? I came up with the idea for what became Dagne Dover while I was working for Coach in the U.K. I saw that there was an opportunity to create a new bag brand rooted in smart, organized design, but beautiful, modern and gender neutral - something that didn't exist at the time. I decided to go back to business school to find my co-founding team and establish the foundation for the brand that we all know today.
AAA Innovations To Be Folded Into Showdown Displays

1 week ago | ppai.org | Jonny Auping

AAA Innovations (PPAI 110972, Standard Plus) will now do business as Showdown Displays (PPAI 254687, Platinum), according to Showdown Displays. Sign-Zone LLC, the parent company of Showdown Displays, acquired AAA Innovations just over a year ago. Showdown Displays was recently named PPAI 100's No. 8 supplier, earning high marks in Growth and Revenue, among other metrics. The integration will be complete and ready to launch June 1.
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff On EU Imports

2 weeks ago | ppai.org | Jonny Auping

President Donald Trump kicked off Memorial Day weekend by threatening to implement a 50% tariff on imports from the European Union. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump claimed the EU has been "very difficult to deal with" regarding trade negotiations. Because discussions have been "going nowhere," the president said he recommends a 50% tariff on EU imports, starting June 1.
Feds Target Uniform Supplier For Allegedly Underpaying Customs Duties

2 weeks ago | ppai.org | Jonny Auping

A California-based medical uniform supplier has come under fire for allegedly violating the False Claims Act by underpaying customs duties owed on imported apparel. The United States filed a complaint last month against Barco Uniforms, as well as Kenny Chan, David Chan and companies they own and operate that supply Barco with apparel manufactured overseas.
NALC Through A Fresh Lens

3 weeks ago | ppai.org | Jonny Auping

With keynote speakers and roundtable discussions at PPAI's North American Leadership Conference this week hitting on so many topics shaping the promotional products industry right now, every conversation felt relevant and thought-provoking to first-time attendee Todd Wallace, MAS. One of his biggest takeaways was the critical role of communication between PPAI and the members of regional associations, such as the New England Promotional Products Association, of which Wallace is a board member.
Meet the Dallas DJ Behind (Maybe) the Longest Running Hip Hop Show Ever

1 month ago | thebarbedwire.com | Jonny Auping

If you want to understand the casual celebrity of EZ Eddie D, sit with him on a porch. Preferably on a Saturday evening, and preferably at the busiest intersection of the Bishop Arts District in the rapidly gentrified Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas. Less than two minutes into my conversation with him on such a porch, on such a busy Saturday, a honk came from a passing SUV. “EDDIE!” a woman shouted from the open window. “Hey, what up!” Eddie yelled back. “You’re back in town?”“I’m here to see you.
Meet the Dallas DJ Behind (Maybe) the Longest Running Hip Hop Show Ever

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Jonny Auping

6 hours ago Shrek the Musical: a delightful escape at new Milkwood Theatre With an abundance of doom and gloom around us, it is fabulous to be part of a fearless display of reckless optimism: the opening of a brand-new … 13 hours ago 7 Movie Sequels That Killed an Important Character Too Early There are quite a few examples of third movies in long-running franchises that, in one of their earliest scenes, killed off a character who was … 1 day ago 10 Forgotten 90s Action Movies That Deserve a...
The Road To PPAI 100

1 month ago | ppai.org | Jonny Auping

"Lists and listicles got a bad rep during the Buzzfeed years. If there's enough research behind it, a list can be an excellent way to convey interesting and important information."This is something my wife, Natalie Weiner, a journalist, said during a keynote session about using research to make readers invest their attention into unlikely topics. While those two sentences weren't referring to PPAI 100, they certainly could have been. PPAI 100 is, of course, a list.
Rupt Ventures Announces 'Biggest Investment To Date'

1 month ago | ppai.org | Jonny Auping

Rupt Ventures - the venture arm of Austin, Texas-based supplier Rupt (PPAI 826757, Standard-Base) - has announced its fifth strategic investment in the promotional products industry: (PPAI 766866, Standard-Plus). Rupt is calling the partnership its "biggest investment to date." Founded in 2011 by Tyler Tolson, Denik is a supplier of custom notebooks, operating in the promotional and retail spaces.