PPAI Expo Daily - Monday - 2016

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PPAIEXPO DAILY™ January 11, 2016
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT DOOR AT THE RPI SUMMIT?
By Tina Berres Filipski
The PPAI Expo is not the only
event taking place in the Mandalay Bay
Convention Center this week. Again
this year, Recognition Professionals
International has chosen to co-locate
its annual conference, the 2016 RPI
Summit, with Expo. The conference
attracts a cross-section of corporate
recognition professionals, industry
practitioners and promotional buyers
who will also have access to The PPAI
Expo’s brand. pavilion and the new
brand. experience during the show’s
hours.
Branded as The Recognition
Experience, the conference opened
on Saturday and runs through
Wednesday, and it is designed
to showcase RPI’s mission by
presenting sessions that enhance
organizational performance through
workforce recognition. As the leading
professional association focused on
workforce recognition as a systematic
method for improvements in the
workplace, the conference has three
key objectives: 1. providing access to
best practice standards, education,
research and the exchange of ideas; 2.
creating opportunities for the diverse
membership to grow professionally;
and 3. advocating recognition and
engagement strategies as a means to
promote organizational excellence.
Among this year’s keynote
speakers are several world-renowned
names in business, communication
and entertainment, including best-
selling author and psychologist Dr.
Paul White and O.C. Tanner’s David
Sturt, Southwest Airlines’ Senior VP
of Culture & Communications Ginger
Hardage, and a special keynote and
singing performance by author and
“American Idol” season six finalist
Melinda Doolittle.
“We know through formal studies
and unofficial data that all companies
benefit when employee morale is
high,” says Kevin Cronin, RPI board
member and co-chair of the 2016
RPI Summit. “When employees feel
appreciated it leads to increased
engagement, retention, productivity
and improved customer service.” He
adds that when customized products
play a role in corporate recognition
programs, there is a bigger impact
when presented with recognition
milestones, even as part of day-to-day
recognition programs. n
In what ways are
your clients’ buying
habits changing?
Q&A:
PPAI Expo attendees are eligible to
register and attend the Summit.
Find more information at
Craig Reese, CAS
Senior Vice President-
Western Region/Partner
Jack Nadel International
Clients are just as busy as we
are, and finding a way to connect
on many levels is important. Here
at Jack Nadel International, we
believe in “touches” and even
teach the touch theory to account
executives starting out in the
business. The touches I use are
email, handwritten notes, our
Promo of the Month program, a
personalized email campaign—
just about anything to cut through
the noise, be top of mind and gain
their business.
Denise Taschereau
Owner
Fairware
One of the trends we’re
seeing is a deepening
commitment to buying local.
With the “maker” movement
and a growing trend to
support local businesses, our
clients are looking to connect
with their supply chain. For
example, where we would
have used “Made in Canada”
as our country of origin or a
“Made in Canada” tag, we’re
now identifying what cities
products are made in. I just
added “Made in Toronto” to a
product description on a client’s
online store recently, and have
even noted the neighborhood
a product was made in; e.g.
“Made in east Vancouver.”
We’re getting a great response
to the hyper-local supply chain
and we’ve been working with
makers across North America
to deliver.
Evie Sterner, CAS
Owner
Jericho Promotions/HALO
Branded Solutions
My clients want non-traditional
things that are more useful and
are uniquely different from the
next guy. They generally would not
have done that in the past. They
want custom items and are willing
to pay for them if the quality and
uniqueness are highly perceived.
We recently did some USA-
made, handcrafted wooden butter
spreaders from a local artist who
took the time to ensure he could
laser engrave the client’s logo on
the butter spreader.
Another situation was the client
wanted fondue sets and the only
supplier I could find with a fondue
set would not print two colors.
The client wanted two colors, so
we found a decorator who could
use the blank fondue sets from
the supplier and decorate with two
colors to fulfill the client’s request.
It’s these extra steps that will help
retain a client and have that client
trust in you to become their partner
in marketing.
SEE WHY GREAT
DESIGN IS IN THE BAG
By Tina Berres Filipski
Distributors on the lookout for
exceptional and creative design ideas
while at this year’s PPAI Expo should
stop by the Victorinox Swiss Army
(UPIC: swisarmy) booth #2322 to
check out contenders in the supplier’s
design contest geared around the
theme “Showcasing Our Industry’s
Creativity.”
Prior to the show, a dozen design
teams from distributor companies and
PPAI submitted their most innovative
takes on the topic using the company’s
white Spectra Global Carry-On as a
canvas. The completed designs will
be showcased at the booth where
show attendees will have a chance to
vote for their favorite design. Winners
announced during an in-booth party
4pm on Wednesday .
Entries garnering the most votes
will win a Victorinox Swiss Army prize
pack as well as recognition of their
achievement. One winner and one
runner up will be selected from all
votes cast.
The winning
designs will be used
throughout the year
in Victorinox’s
marketing
campaign,
and they
will be
prominently
displayed at
the company’s
corporate
headquarters
in Monroe,
Connecticut. n