August 7, 2009 Custom HBC Corporation, the leading Health and Beauty Care supplier to the Promotional Products Industry, announces that it has acquired Custom Chocolate of St. Paul, MN. 

Custom HBC Corporation has acquired the assets of Custom Chocolate; a producer of specialty molded and imprinted chocolate, confectionery and gift products located in St. Paul, MN.   The former owners of Custom Chocolate, Janet and Paul Schmid, are expected to remain with the company. 

Custom HBC CEO Larry Wilhelm said, Custom Chocolate has been producing custom chocolate and related products since 1982.  Over that time, they have developed a tremendous amount of expertise in producing custom molded and imprinted chocolate products.  In fact, they have over 5,000 custom chocolate molds in their inventory to cover all types of end-users and promotional applications. 

We believe this acquisition makes strategic sense for Custom HBC and significantly enhances our growth prospects for the future.  Like health & beauty care products, chocolate products are consumable, affordable and regulated by the FDA.  The production and imprinting processes are also very similar.  We have also added a new line of Custom Coffee products to their line, currently available through Custom Chocolates.

Custom Chocolate will operate as an independent subsidiary with its own ASI (47919) and Sage (68680) identifiers, but will share a direct and multi-line rep sales force with Custom HBC.  Custom Chocolate can be reached toll-free at 1-800-546-0772 or on the web at customchocolate.net.

Founded in 2000 by Larry Wilhelm, former President of Softsoap Enterprises and Minnetonka Brands, Inc., Custom HBC Corporation is the premier developer, manufacturer and supplier of customized health & beauty care products for the Promotional Industry.  Winner of the prestigious Advertising Specialties Institutes Spirit Award for three consecutive years as a Top 10 fastest growing supplier, Custom HBC Corporation manufactures Pocket Sprayers, flavored lip balms, custom scented lotions and specialty antibacterial sanitizing products including liquid soaps, foams, gels, sprays and wipes.

Industry Leaders Combine Forces to Create

Leading Health & Beauty Products Website

Waconia, MN March 6, 2009 – Custom HBC Corporation, the leading Health and Beauty Care supplier to the Promotional Products Industry, launches a new website to better serve customers of the promotional products industry.

The new website, www.customhbc.com, will increase efficiency and productivity for clients and their customers.  It has many great features including instant access to over 1700 quality health and beauty products, virtual samples, multi-faceted search, case studies, ideas and more.

For more than 5 years, Custom HBC has been providing superior service and unique promotional ideas for its customers.  The new website continues the tradition of superior customer care, a value to which Custom HBC is very committed.

 “The creation of our new site was a great step toward our constant goal of serving our customers better and making it easier to do business with us,” said Larry Wilhelm, President and Owner.  “Choosing Buttonwood as our development partner was critical in delivering the best solution to our customers.”

Buttonwood Technology Group helps suppliers and distributors in the Promotional Products Industry start selling online today.  eCommerce is the fastest growing segment of the industry and Buttonwood is the leader in eCommerce and Order Management technology. 

“Now Custom HBC can help distributors grow sales with online marketing tools, downloadable product data and custom order and order status integration solutions,” says David Verchere, CEO of Buttonwood Technology Group. “Custom HBC remains a leader in technology innovation and a trusted sales partner for distributors looking to expand their business online.”

Founded in 2000 by Larry Wilhelm, former President of Softsoap Enterprises and Minnetonka Brands, Inc., Custom HBC Corporation is the premier developer, manufacturer and supplier of customized health & beauty care products for the Promotional Industry.  Winner of the prestigious Advertising Specialties Institute’s Spirit Award for three consecutive years as a Top 10 fastest growing supplier, Custom HBC Corporation manufactures Pocket Sprayers™, flavored lip balms, custom scented lotions and specialty antibacterial sanitizing products including liquid soaps, foams, gels, sprays and wipes.

For more information about Custom HBC Corporation’s complete line of health and beauty care products, call Custom HBC Corporation at 1-877-442-9881 or visit the Custom HBC Corporation Web site at www.customhbc.com.

Waconia, MN July 29, 2009 Custom HBC Corporation, the leading Health and Beauty Care supplier to the Promotional Products Industry, announces a License agreement for the patented Logo in Motion technology on Lip Balm and Breath Mints from Poppenex International.

Custom HBC Corporation signed the License Agreement with Poppenex International for the exclusive rights to Poppenexs patented Logo in Motion technology for the Health & Beauty category.  The Logo in Motion technology provides unique methods to incorporate various kinds of motion effects into logo imprinted products.  Initially, Custom HBC will market Logo in Motion lip balms and breath mint dispensers, with a number of other additional products under development.

Custom HBC CEO and Owner Larry Wilhelm said, We are very excited to be working with Carson Lee and his team at Poppenex to make his Logo in Motion technology broadly available to the Promotional Industry.  We think this type of creativity and product innovation is exactly what the Industry needs to rekindle growth with end-users. We expect the Logo in Motion lip balm and breath mint dispensers to be available by August 1^st.  

Founded in 2000 by Larry Wilhelm, former President of Softsoap Enterprises and Minnetonka Brands, Inc., Custom HBC Corporation is the premier developer, manufacturer and supplier of customized health & beauty care products for the Promotional Industry.  Winner of the prestigious Advertising Specialties Institutes Spirit Award for three consecutive years as a Top 10 fastest growing supplier, Custom HBC Corporation manufactures Pocket Sprayers, flavored lip balms, custom scented lotions and specialty antibacterial sanitizing products including liquid soaps, foams, gels, sprays and wipes.

Custom HBC Names Mark Larned

Northeast Regional Sales Manager

Waconia, MN March 4, 2009 – Custom HBC Corporation, the leading Health and Beauty Care supplier to the Promotional Products Industry, names industry veteran Mark Larned Regional Sales Manager for the Northeast.

In this new position Mr. Larned will be responsible for managing and developing all key accounts in his region.  He will also be responsible for working with multi-line representatives in the region.  Mr. Larned is charged with carrying out our mission and customer promise by delivering exceptional HBC products and service, consistently on time, with fantastic customer service, efficient problem resolution and making it easy to do business with Custom HBC.

Mr. Larned comes to us from Kreo where he was New Business Development Manager. Mark has been involved in the promotional products industry for over 20 years.  He was recognized as the Counselor Magazine’s Factory Sales Rep of the Year when he was with Top 25 Supplier Barton Nelson, Inc.

 “Mark is a great addition to our team,” said Larry Wilhelm, president and owner.  “His industry experience, leadership qualities and professional demeanor are the right mix for carrying out our mission in the Northeast, delivering exceptional service to our customers.”

Founded in 2000 by Larry Wilhelm, former President of Softsoap Enterprises and Minnetonka Brands, Inc., Custom HBC Corporation is the premier developer, manufacturer and supplier of customized health & beauty care products for the Promotional Industry.  Winner of the prestigious Advertising Specialties Institute’s Spirit Award for three consecutive years as a Top 10 fastest growing supplier, Custom HBC Corporation manufactures Pocket Sprayers™, flavored lip balms, custom scented lotions and specialty antibacterial sanitizing products including liquid soaps, foams, gels, sprays and wipes.

For more information about Custom HBC Corporation’s complete line of health and beauty care products, call Custom HBC Corporation at 1-877-442-9881 or visit the Custom HBC Corporation Web site at www.customhbc.com.

Custom HBC Announces

 Promotional Stimulus Program

We all have heard the news about the economy.  Custom HBC has developed a solution to the slowed economy; a promotional stimulus package that will do more for the industry than the governments version, and faster. 

Custom HBC will be offering Next Quantity Pricing on everything in the catalog on orders placed and shipped by April 30, 2009.  In addition, first color setup will be free.  Inquire at info@customhbc.com for additional details and specials. 

In addition, the Award Winning Pocket Sprayer (hand sanitizer) is now available for only $1.20 (R) for 500 pieces on orders placed and shipped by April 30, 2009.  Inquire at info@customhbc.com for additional details.

Custom HBC is the leading supplier of customized health and beauty care products to the promotional industry. From lip balm to foot cream and everything in between Custom HBC has you covered. Whether it is antibacterial gel for a hospital or stain remover stick for a dry cleaner, look to Custom HBC to help design a custom promotion that works for you. Consider a health & beauty product for the next sales meeting or give-away. Because Health & Beauty = healthy, beautiful profits. 

For more information about Custom HBC Corporation’s complete line of health and beauty care products, call Custom HBC Corporation at 1-877-442-9881 or visit the Custom HBC Corporation Web site at www.customhbc.com.

Custom HBC Named to Inc. 500

 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America

For more than 27 years, the Inc. 500/5000 has served as a benchmark for the most innovative, dynamic, and successful companies in the nation.  The list is the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy – America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. 

 “If you want to find out which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500,” said Inc. Editor Jane Berentson.  “These are the most innovative, dynamic, fast-growing companies in the nation – the ones coming up with solutions to some of our knottiest problems, creating systems that let us conduct business faster and easier, and manufacturing products we soon discover we can’t live without. The Inc. 500 list is Inc. magazine’s tribute to American business ingenuity and ambition.”

Founded in 2000 by Larry Wilhelm, former President of Softsoap Enterprises and Minnetonka Brands, Inc., Custom HBC Corporation is the premier developer, manufacturer and supplier of customized health & beauty care products for the Promotional Industry.  Winner of the prestigious Advertising Specialties Institute’s Spirit Award for three consecutive years as a Top 10 fastest growing supplier, Custom HBC Corporation manufactures Pocket Sprayers™, flavored lip balms, custom scented lotions and specialty antibacterial sanitizing products including liquid soaps, foams, gels, sprays and wipes.

“I am proud to have such a great team,” said Larry Wilhelm, President and Owner of Custom HBC Corporation, “And I am especially grateful to our Promotional Distributor customers and their support as we have expanded and grown in the past five years.  This award would not have been possible without them.”

For more information about Custom HBC Corporation’s complete line of health and beauty care products, call Custom HBC Corporation at 1-877-442-9881 or visit the Custom HBC Corporation Web site at www.customhbc.com.