PPB April 2015

11 / 108

working, quick-to-laugh, funny and
friendly GAPPP regional director and
organizer extraordinaire, will have me
I’m ready to participate again.
We should all experience what goes
into making a successful show, to better
appreciate our staff and volunteers. Give
it a try; it’s a positive experience and
time well spent.
Marsha Londe
CEO
Tango Partners
Atlanta, Georgia
UPIC: TangoP
Conflicting Motivations Behind
Promotional Products Criticism
On February 22, The Oklahoman
editorial board published an op-ed on
wasteful government spending on promo-
tional products. PPAI responded in a letter
to the newspaper, supporting responsible
spending and the effective use of promo-
tional products to promote essential govern-
ment programs.
Thank you for representing all of us
in this great industry. While inappropri-
ate spending of any sort should be
reviewed and addressed, I think it is
important to point out the conflict of
interest that The Oklahoman has in pub-
lishing this article. Promotional products
are one of the most effective forms of
advertising in almost every industry
across this country. Promotional product
sales hit an all-time high in 2013 while
newspaper sales have been on a seven-
year decline, from $44.3 billion to $19.5
billion. That is more than a 50-percent
drop in revenue in seven years’ time!
Newspaper advertising is how they make
their money and if, by publishing this
story, they can make a competing prod-
uct look bad in the eyes of the govern-
ment and the public, why not?
Businesses and government have
seen the results they can achieve with
promotional products and by publishing
this article The Oklahoman is able to
attack a competitor under the guise of it
being a legitimate story of significant
consequence.
Let’s make this clear. Is there frivo-
lous spending in government? Yes! Is
some of that frivolous spending done
on promotional products? Yes!
However, the answer isn’t to suggest
sweeping cuts with a broad brush. The
answer is for the individual depart-
ments that purchase the products to
make sure that the products they do
buy are representing the message
appropriately and effectively. They can
do this by partnering with a promo-
tional products distributor that brings
the experience and expertise to the
table, not just the lowest price.
Chris Morrissey
Vice President
Proforma Big Dog Branding
Fort Collins, Colorado
UPIC: Bigdog90
APRIL 2015 • PPB • 9
Send feedback on articles in PPB or
opinions on industry issues to
.