PPB September 2016

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FEATURE | Rising Stars
“It’s a beautiful thing when a career and
a passion come together,” says Sarah
Merrill, who combines her loves of marketing
and merchandising in her role with Sterling
Heights, Michigan-based distributor Mercury
Promotions & Fulfillment. Although she grew up
in the state and attended college at Northwood
University in Midland, Michigan, Merrill moved
south to Atlanta, Georgia, to take her first job
with distributor Quest Promotions. There she
learned the complete scope of the business
from sourcing products to accounting. When it
was time to come back home nine years ago,
she chose Mercury Promotions & Fulfillment.
Merrill, 34, loves the fact that she can use
her education (a degree in business with a dual
major in fashion marketing and merchandising
management) and her work experience to
craft creative solutions for her clients—and
no two days are ever the same. “Each day I’m
presented with new challenges and situations,
which keeps me excited and focused,” she
says. “I am encouraged to think outside of the
box and am trusted to get things done. I am
able to do what I love, for a company I love,
and I am building amazing relationships in the
process. It doesn’t get much better than that!”
While Merrill manages a pretty full plate
most days, she makes time to serve the
industry through her regional association,
Michigan Promotional Professionals
Association (MiPPA) where she is board
secretary, serves on the executive
committee and is chair of MiPPA’s TOM
Show and co-chair of the spring tabletop
show, Ideas in Bloom. Her effervescence
and energy as a volunteer caught the eye of
MiPPA Executive Director Paul A. Kiewiet,
MAS+, who nominated her as a Rising Star.
“Sarah demonstrates an uncommon level
of both leadership and organizational skills,”
says the former PPAI Board chair and PPAI
Hall of Fame inductee. “She is able to grasp
the big picture, focus on the end objective
and keep all of the details, pieces and people
moving in the right direction.”
He also says Merrill has an energy level
that matches her high level of commitment
to the association. “The result is that she gets
things done, and her attention to detail ensures
that she gets things done right. Amazingly, she
is able to balance this with a sense of humor
and a sense of perspective, never acting as if
she is overwhelmed. She commands respect
and is a capable and inspirational leader.”
A former distributor himself, Kiewiet
admires Merrill’s solid reputation for
working nimbly and skillfully with industry
partners. “Sarah is widely respected for her
treatment of suppliers and reps,” he notes.
“She develops partnerships that help her
company grow and gets the best work from
suppliers.” He calls her a consummate
professional who also serves as a mentor to
new employees at Mercury and adds that
she is always willing to share her knowledge
and her network with others.
Always on the go, Merrill says her most
difficult challenge is learning to delegate and
say “No.”
“I have the tendency to try to be
everything to everyone,” she admits.
“Juggling everything becomes exhausting
over time but building a team with the
right people and learning to trust them and
delegate tasks is essential. The bigger the
dream, the more important the team.”
In just a little over a decade in
business, she’s also learned an important
lesson: “Respect your time and talents;
both are invaluable. Always surround
yourself with people who agree with this.”
She adds that it’s okay to say “No.”
Her advice to others looking to find
balance and full satisfaction in their lives and
careers is to get involved. “Don’t be afraid to
ask questions or to learn a new way of doing
something. To be successful, know what
you are doing, love what you are doing and
believe in what you are doing. Finally, take
care of your relationships and the rest will
take care of itself.”
When it’s time to relax, Merrill favors long
weekends, especially during the summer and
spends time boating, entertaining friends and
family, and reading magazines (everything
from InStyle to Forbes).
HER INSPIRATION
“My dad always encouraged me to follow
my dreams, try my hardest and be the
best I can be. His work ethic inspired me
to become a hard-working person and
his positive outlook on life is contagious.
He taught me to always look on the bright
side and face any challenges in life with a
positive attitude.”
THE INDUSTRY
IN FIVE YEARS
She believes in a need for increased
awareness of the industry in colleges
and among young workers. “Attracting,
engaging, developing and retaining
the next generation is vital right now. I
would love to see our industry develop
an ongoing strategy for college outreach
and recruitment. Recruiting students to
volunteer at industry events and shows
would be a great way to introduce our
world to the next generation.”
ON HER TO-DO
LIST NOW
Format e-mail campaign, update
showroom with new apparel samples,
book Pensacola flight, get ice for BBQ.
Sarah
Merrill
MERCHANDISE DIRECTOR
Mercury Promotions & Fulfillment
2016
30 | SEPTEMBER 2016 |