New & Old History
In December of 1980 I graduated from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. I then moved to Burlington, where I worked as a bicycle mechanic and a temp at Digital Computers. During that time I heard an ad on WRUV, the UVM radio station. The University’s performing arts presenter, The Lane Series, was looking for someone to put up posters in exchange for tickets. That is where it began. Soon I discovered organizations would pay for postering services, and the rest is…
December 1981
Bill Orleans started Professional Postering (originally called Chittenden County Poster Service). First clients: Lane Series, Vermont Symphony, LeClub, Hunts and Main Street Dance Studio.
March 1982
Bill and partner Liz Rosenzweig started publishing Burlington’s Entertainment Guide Newspaper. Writers included Paula Routly, Pamela Polson, Tim Brookes, and Robert Resnick (ended in 1990).
June 1982
Hired Stefanie Shreiner as first employee.
June 1982
Brochure distribution began in the Greater Burlington Area. Professional Postering and Distribution began. First Clients: Burlington Square Mall, Champlain Mill and Champlain Valley Fair.
August 1982
Began “Burlington’s Best” a cartoon place mat map. Early advertisers: Finest Hour Hot Tub, Carbur’s and Leunigs (ended in 1989)
September 1982
Expanded distribution service to Addison and Washington Counties.
January 1983
Celebrated first anniversary at a party on the patio of the Daily Planet.
November 1983
Moved Office from home to Main Street in downtown Burlington.
February 1984
Started “Stats For Less”, a photo stat service, a precursor to scanners and high quality printers.
May 1984
Expanded service to cover the State of Vermont.
July 1984
Celebrated two and a half year anniversary, party at Lilly’s Top of the Town.
January 1985
Named Runner-up Entrepreneur of the Year – in the Vanguard Press, Best of Vermont Readers Poll, (along with Ray Pecor and Tony Pomerleau and what ever happened to those guys?)
June 1985
Known for distributing shoe brochures. Clients Dexter, Dunham, and Timberland Outlets.
March 1985
Rented a garage at Easy Self Storage, eventually ending up with four units.
September 1989
Bill’s twin sons Max and Louie were born.
November 1992
Hired Lorraine Healey (still going strong!).
February 1993
Hired Denise Bergman and Frank Davison (both still going strong!).
June 1994
PP&D won The Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative Award.
December 1995
Expanded the Killington Region with forty new racks including Cortina, Pico Hotel and Inn at Six Mountains.
June 1996
Established the Vermont Attractions Association Member to Member Brochure Distribution Program. (still going strong!)
July 1996
PP&D owns three hundred and fifty brochure racks in fifteen regions.
July 1996
Acquired Killington brochure route from BJ Jerome of BJ Brochure Distribution.
April 1997
Moved to 1,200 square foot warehouse at 180 Flynn Avenue.
July 1997
Acquired Killington and White River Junction brochure routes and racks from Howard Downes of Resort Brochure Distribution.
November 1997
Acquired Stowe brochure route and racks from Howard Downes of Resort Brochure Distribution. Now with ninety-six pocket racks.
October 1998
Acquired Addison County brochure route and racks from Pete and Bette Horton of Arkmont Brochure Distribution.
February 1999
Acquired Plattsburgh New York area brochure route and racks from Russell Blaise (from Ausable Chasm) of KB Management Distribution.
December 2000
Published first brochure distribution catalog.
January 2001
Placed over a dozen newspaper / magazines racks throughout Greater Burlington including six Simon’s Stores and three Burlington Bagel Bakeries.
January 2002
Moved to 2,400 square foot warehouse at 377 Pine Street, Burlington.
April 2002
Hired Jerry Newton
June 2003
Hired John Lashua.
June 2004
Hired Pat Blow
September 2004
Joined International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors.
December 2004
Expanded Warehouse to 4,400 square feet and move office on site.
June 2005
Established Dining Out Pocket Brochures, locating twenty-five customized brochure displays in Greater Burlington.
September 2005
Purchased Montpelier’s Downtown Association Brochure racks system and a management contract for the State Street Information Booth.
October 2005
Bill Orleans elected to the Board of the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors at their annual conference in San Diego California.
In San Diego, Bill with Frederic Faurennes of Aeolus Productions Brochure Distribution of Belgium during the 2005 Conference.
January 2006
Launch of PPD Website!
January 2006
Acquired Lake Placid, New York area brochure route from Bill Dow of Adirondack Brochure Distribution. Adirondack will continue to service Lake George and many other areas in New York.
February 2006
Bill Orleans elected to the Board of the Vermont Travel Industry Conference.
March 2006
Bill Orleans elected to the Board of the Vermont Hospitality Council, of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
April 2006
PP&D acquired the Quiet Concierge, a unique three ring binder packed full of dining and activity information. These books are currently located at over fifty lodging establishments in Greater Burlington.
October 2006
Bill Orleans attends the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors conference in Orlando, Florida.
November 2006
Bill Orleans joins a Vermont Chamber of Commerce trade delegation to Beijing and Shanghai China, staffing Vermont’s booth at an International Travel Show.
October 2007
Bill Orleans attends the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors conference in Chicago.
April 2008
PP&D places a new brochure display at the Robert E. Miller Expo Centre in the Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, Vermont
May 2008
PP&D assumes total responsibility of the Vermont Attractions Association Member to Member Distribution program and is now traveling to Southern Vermont on a regular basis.
May 2008
PP&D placed a new brochure display in the newly restored Colchester Historical Society Schoolhouse at Airport Park.
October 2008
Bill Orleans attends the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors conference in Paris and Antwerp. International membership almost equals domestic.
December 2008
Premier of PP&D’s first E-mail newsletter!
January 2009
Hire Paul Hamilton (still going strong) and Mo Hebert.
June 2009
Bill Orleans elected chairperson of the Vermont Travel Industry Conference.
July 2009
PP&D locates three brochure racks and a bulletin board at the new Lamoille County Information Center in Morrisville.
October 2009
Vancover, Canada. Bill Orleans Elected President of the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors.
May 2010
After 25 yearly sales attempts, PP&D is now proud to be distributing The Great Escape Brochure. (Perseverance pays!)
September 2010
PP&D hosts the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors in Vermont. Member from six countries and ten US States attend. Tours include Spirit of Ethan Allen, Shelburne Farms and Magic Hat Brewery.
April 2011
Bill Orleans was awarded the 2011 Vermont Travel Person of the Year award. This award is presented to an individual who contributes significantly to Vermont’s travel I& tourism industry, enforces the Vermont brand, promotes the value of tourism to the state’s economy, and exemplifies what is good within the travel industry.
January 2012
Acquired Kingdom Brochure Distribution, and over forty Brochure Displays in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont from Raymond Menard of Newport
February 2012
Contracted with the Lake Champlain Transportation to manage all brochure distribution on the Ferry Boats.
April 2012
Placed new brochure displays at Hotel Jay and Ice Haus Arena, bring a total of six displays at the Jay Peak Resort
September 2012
Hire Jon Haftarczuk
January 2013
PP&D places new displays at the Quechee Gorge Welcome Center and has exclusive distribution for non-chamber members.
April – 2013
Extra Special Locations program begins, allowing customers to pick and choose among a dozen high traffic locations without paying for all the locations in that region.
May – 2013
PP&D places new displays at the Burlington Waterfront Welcome Center and Burlington Boathouse and has exclusive distribution rights for all brochures.
June 2013
PP&D places a new display at the Burlington Hilton Hotel.
November 2013
PP&D purchases the BLUE MAP and nineteen brochure display locations formerly owned by the Information Gallery. New sites include the Church Street Marketplace Information Kiosk, and displays at Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms, Shelburne Vineyard, Fiddlehead Brewery, Hotel Vermont and six Lake Champlain Ferry docks.
April 2014
PP&D is recognized as Allied Member of the Year by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. This award is designated to an individual / business who is a leader in offering a service that supports and promotes the hospitality industry in Vermont.
May 28, 2014
PP&D published the new and improved BLUE MAP, increasing print run by 30,000 copies and adding distribution to nine new regions.
September 2014
January 2015
Hired Eric Dion and Alan Aitken
November 2015
Received exclusive contract for brochure distribution and publication management at the Burlington International Airport.
February 2016
June 2016
Added new large wall map and display images at the Lake Champlain Chamber of CommerceJuly 2016
PP&D publishes Upper Valley Vacation Coupons for Woodstock, Quechee, White River Junction, and Hanover. Clients include Billings Farm, Quechee Gorge Village, Skinny Pancake, Farmway and Sugarbush Farm.
September 2016
Bill attends the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors Conference in Orlando Florida. To reflect the membership and industry trends the association name is changed to International Association of Visitor Information Providers (IAVIP).
July 2017
October 2017
August 2017
Added a new large wall map at the College Street Parking Garage in Burlington. (photo attached)August 2018
June 2019
Published Burlington Drinking & Dinning Guide, 100,000 distributed to over 300 locations
August 2019
Hired Amanda Brooks as the new manager of the PP&D Call Center and Fulfillment Program.
Moved those operations from Worcester to the Burlington headquarters.
September 2019
Two Vermont businesses, Vermont Flannel and Magic Hat Brewery, took home top prizes of First Place International Brochure and Second Place Rack Card, respectively, at the 2019 International Best Brochure. They both were nominated by PP&D Brochure Distribution.
October 2019
Bill Orleans, president of PP&D Brochure Distribution, attended the October meeting of the International Association of Visitor Information Providers (formally Int. Assoc. of Professional Brochure Distributors) in Athens, Greece.
June 2020
New Clients include; Vermont Chamber / State Summer Tourism Guide (to all our locations), Okemo Chamber Magazine, and Homes and Land Magazine.