2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report
2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report!
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A message from our president
When it comes to safety and social responsibility, no other advertising segment faces the same
regulatory challenges as the promotional products business. Bills such as the U.S. Consumer
Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and California’s Proposition 65, while absolutely vital to
public safety, have placed unique burdens on our industry – and on our customers. But while most
companies in our field struggle to fully grasp the laws, The Image Group is already busy impacting
social change and raising compliance awareness among our clients.
In the pages of this report, you’ll read about our commitment toward protecting children from
harmful products and to maintaining a safe, socially compliant supply chain. These initiatives,
although costly and time consuming, ensure that the values of our organization – as well as those of
our clients – are represented in every one of our manufacturing and purchasing decisions.
All of us at The Image Group are aware of – and grateful for – the trust you place in us when buying
our products. That’s why we’ve made safety and social compliance one of our company’s primary
concerns. When you do business with The Image Group, be assured that we’ve made every effort to
meet and exceed all regulatory guidelines and social standards. Your brand is our priority, and we’ll
do whatever it takes to protect its hard-earned reputation. That’s our promise to you.
Jon M. Levine
President, The Image Group
2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report!
Aimed at enhancing
child safety, the
Consumer Protection
Safety Improvement
Act (CPSIA) requires
that children’s products
undergo independent
testing for lead content,
phthalates, removable
parts, flammable
textiles, and other
proven hazards. The
law applies to all
children’s products,
including promotional
products that children
might receive.
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“We have always taken great
care when decorating children’s
products, and in choosing the
materials we use in the process.
Now we’ve taken those
standards to a much higher
level.”
George Brymer
Chief Operating Officer
The Promotional
Products Association
International (PPAI)
recognizes The Image
Group as an “early
adopter” of product
safety awareness
programs.
CPSIA
The Image Group is an industry leader when it comes to Consumer Protection Safety
Improvement Act knowledge and compliance. In the past year, we’ve implemented
stringent policies for any products that are intended for, or could appeal to, children
twelve years old or younger. All children’s products we sell include CPSIA-required
tracking labeling, including information directing product recipients to online data
about the production of each item.
2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report!
The Image Group is a
member of the PeerNet
Group, a consortium of
leading promotional
product distributors with
combined annual
purchasing power
exceeding $350 million.
PeerNet has leveraged
its buying influence to
persuade the industry’s
top 65 manufacturing
partners to increase
their commitment to
safety and social
compliance.
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“Customers do business with
The Image Group because they
trust us. They trust we’ll deliver
quality products and services,
and that we’ll do so in a socially
compliant way.”
Jim Walrod
National Accounts Team Leader
Representatives from
our preferred vendors
visit our offices
regularly, to meet with
our salespeople and to
update us on
developments to their
safety and social
compliance programs.
Supply chain compliance
The Image Group uses suppliers whose interests in safety and social compliance
closely match our own. We aim to ensure that all manufacturers who sell us products
operate in socially responsible ways and comply with all applicable laws.This year,
we implemented an exhaustive, risk-based vendor approval process that makes
certain we choose suppliers that are responsible, reliable, and ethical.
2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report!
The Image Group has
made a commitment to
giving preferred status
to suppliers who are
QCA certified. To earn
QCA certification,
suppliers must
complete multiple
independent third-party
audits and comply with
stringent national and
international
manufacturing
standards.
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“We recognize QCA as the
industry standard for product
safety and social compliance,
and we support its mission to
improve the standards by which
our industry operates.”
Jon Levine
President
To demonstrate a
serious commitment to
meeting our clients’
expectations for
product safety and
compliance, we’ve
pledged that 90 percent
of our purchasing will
be done with QCA
accredited suppliers
within the next three
years.
QCA
We’re proud of our association with the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA). QCA is
an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit accrediting organization for
promotional products industry suppliers. Its mission is to elevate the standards by
which manufacturers and importers provide safe and socially compliant merchandise.
We’re one of 11 members of QCA’s Distributor Advocacy Council, and we contribute
financially to support the organization.
2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report!
Along with direct
financial contributions
totaling $48,875, we
provided thousands of
dollars worth of in-kind
donations to nonprofits
in 2013. Supported
charities included the
YMCA, Cleveland
Clinic, University of
Michigan, University of
Toledo Foundation,
Susan G. Komen,
Lourdes University,
Pelotonia, and
Healthnetwork
Foundation – just to
name a few.
Our employees serve
on numerous nonprofit
boards, including
Ronald McDonald
House Charities of
Northwest Ohio, United
Way of Greater Toledo,
Leadership Toledo,
Mercy Health Partners,
Mobile Meals of Toledo,
Abundant Life, and
Josina Lott Residential
& Community Services.
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“As proud as we are of our
corporate charitable efforts,
what really stands out is the
personal contributions of the
people who work here.”
Lisa Hoverson
Chief Financial Officer
Giving back
One of our core values is to create an environment in which every employee is
committed to making our community a better place to live. As a company, The Image
Group supports organizations throughout our marketing footprint. Our employees are
deeply involved in helping their neighbors – financially, yes, but in other ways, too.
We take our values seriously, including our responsibility to the communities in which
we live and work.
2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report!
Our values
The published core values at many companies describe the way those organizations aspire to be. At
The Image Group, our values reflect the way we already conduct our work and our lives.
In fulfilling our vision, we will work together to create an environment in which every employee:
• Is responsible for contributing to the sales and growth of the company and shares in the
rewards of our success
• Is empowered to ensure that our unparalleled quality standards are consistently met
• Is encouraged to communicate openly and honestly
• Is urged to find ways to overcome obstacles
• Is expected to be ethical
• Treats others with respect
• Has the opportunity for personal and professional growth
• Inspires co-workers to do their best
• Contributes to making The Image Group an enjoyable place to work
• Is committed to making our community a better place to live
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Our vision is
to be SEEN and REMEMBERED
as being the best
at everything we do–
as a company
and as individuals–
whatever it takes

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