PPB February 2019

S i gne t , I nc . Giving The Gift Of Education Elizabeth and David Tate, owners of Signet, Inc., help prepare students to choose careers in the promotional products industry. by Danielle Renda E lizabeth and David Tate are paving the way for today’s college students—and ensuring the future of the promotional products industry. The Tates make up the leadership team behind Memphis, Tennessee-based distributor Signet, Inc., where Elizabeth serves as chairman and CEO, and David serves as president. The company was founded by Elizabeth’s stepfather, Ray Devine, in 1976. Signet’s services span custom-branded merchandise and corporate apparel, company stores and microsites, warehousing and distribution, event logistics, management, kitting, collation and gift-wrapping. The Tates were recently recognized as Distinguished Friends of the College by the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business & Economics and named to the university’s Hall of Fame for developing an internship program to introduce students to the promotional products industry. The program emerged as a partnership between Signet, University of Memphis, of which Elizabeth is a proud alumnus, and PPAI’s Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF). PPEF awards scholarships annually to children of parents who work, full time, in the industry. Signet’s internship is officially known as the PPEF-Signet Scholarship at Fogelman. “It is much more than an altruistic ‘feel-good,’” Elizabeth says. “This is a unique opportunity to present our industry and our own company to future employees, as well as customers.” Elizabeth shares more about how the internship works. How does this partnership between PPEF and Signet provide scholarships to students at the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business and Economics? Each spring PPEF funds the scholarship for the next academic year, starting in the fall. PPEF provides the support to ensure all is set up properly, legally, etc. Signet sets the criteria for the scholarship, i.e. needs-based, marketing or supply chain major, minimum grade point average required, etc. The Fogelman College of Business at the University of Memphis fields applicants and makes the selection. They then notify us of the recipient. How long has the internship been running, and howmany interns have participated? We are starting our fourth year and so far, we have had eight interns. We have also filled approximately six temporary, part-time positions with non-internship students from the school, resulting from our engagement. Interns have worked in merchandising, purchasing, social media/marketing and sales support. How do prospective interns qualify? We attend the internship fairs at the University of Memphis, so we can meet most prospects during that time. We set up a display of products and explain our industry to 72 | FEBRUARY 2019 | CONNECT