PPB September 2019

HALO - Boost Branding PPAI 764913 Heavenly Enterprises Midwest PPAI 514656 High Promotes PPAI 764923 Hungry Penguin PPAI 762129 Image Outfitters PPAI 759671 INCREDIBLE DESIGNS PPAI 639862 Industry Promotions PPAI 765223 Instant Imprints PPAI 640625 iPROMOTEu/Impress U Marketing PPAI 761459 JDM Custom Impressions PPAI 765346 Jersey Cape Badges PPAI 433211 K2J Marketing Partners PPAI 765348 How did your company get its start? Our business was born out of pure frustration over reports that there will soon be more plastic than fish in our world’s oceans. I could go on with all the disheartening facts I’ve learned while entering this space. I knew plastic pollution was bad, but I really had no idea the extent, magnitude and damage until I entered into this business. California became the first state to ban single-use plastic bags in 2016. We were happy when the plastic bag ban came into effect, but what we found was that with a lot of families, it didn’t reduce waste. We were just accumulating thicker, more cumbersome plastic bags or cheap, reusable bags that quickly grow mold and bacteria, they were all piling up endlessly in drawers and closets. My whole pantry had become a reusable bag wasteland. This frustration led to my first aha moment. There had to be a better way. So, we jumped on the opportunity to design a new way to pack groceries, while solving the plastic and reusable bag dilemma. What led your company to enter the promotional products market? After receiving dozens of requests to private label our bags, we decided to enter the promotional product market. What’s your favorite thing about being in the promotional products industry? Our favorite thing is to work with new businesses in all industries and enjoy providing smart, simple solutions to reducing plastic waste with our Lotus Trolley Bags and our reusable Lotus Produce Bags. Why did you join PPAI? We joined to connect with new businesses and offer these unique, patented solutions for businesses to take advantage of. NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Farzan Dehmoubed CEO Lotus Trolley Bag Carlsbad, California PPAI 762810 Farzan Dehmoubed with his wife and co-founder Jen Dehmoubed. | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 117 CONNECT