PPB May 2017

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perspectives Mary Jo Tomasini, MAS
Chair of the Board
Springing Forth
2017 is flying by and it is already spring.
Today, we are in full throttle, giving
all PPAI members full access to numerous
tools to Get In Touch! ® including print ads,
logos, social media graphics, research,
videos and more all for you to spread this
amazing message about the promotional
products industry.
How Are You Getting In Touch?
As you know, the Get In Touch! initiative
is an integral part of PPAI’s new mission
as we are making the change from
transactional to relational. This campaign,
the first of its kind, is aimed at increasing
awareness and enhancing the overall
perception of promotional products with
the ultimate goal of directing a larger
share of advertising dollars to include
the purchase of promotional products.
This is all focused on your success as
promotional product professionals.
My promotional products company,
Competitive Edge, is getting in touch
through hosting our customers and
prospective customers at regional
association buyer shows that will allow
them to have fun while learning about
how we can help them by being an
important part of their advertising and
marketing dollars. We recently hosted
several customers at the PPAChicago
New Ideas Show at the Arlington Park
Racetrack where they could enjoy a day at
the track as they met with more than 100
of our finest suppliers. It was a fantastic
event and our customers loved the
hands-on experience.
We want to hear how all of you are
getting in touch. Please share what you,
your customers or others are doing to
Get In Touch!. Sharing how you are getting
people involved—from your internal staff
to your clients—will offer all of us the
inspiration to be creative and innovative
in our own efforts. To share what you are
doing to Get In Touch!, please contact Kim
R. Todora, PPAI public relations manager,
at .
L.E.A.D. Is One Of The Ways
PPAI Is Getting In Touch
The promotional products industry is
nearly a $21 billion industry annually. We
are a powerful industry and we need to be
heard, seen and recognized. Legislative
Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.) is a
way PPAI is getting in touch and staying
in touch. For nearly a decade, PPAI
has participated in L.E.A.D. Industry
professionals throughout the country
travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with
senators, representatives and legislative
staff to discuss and create awareness
about issues, opportunities and potential
challenges we face.
As this issue is going to press, 80
representatives are scheduled to take part
in L.E.A.D. 2017 and over 250 meetings
are scheduled on April 26 and 27. We are
ready to discuss relevant issues affecting
our industry. This forum allows us to take
the industry’s voice to Capitol Hill.
This is my third year participating
in L.E.A.D. as a PPAI member, board
member and as an owner of a promotional
products business. Each year, it has been
very gratifying to know I was making
a difference. To be among other PPAI
members and get in front of legislators,
and meet face-to-face with them to share
the importance of our industry, was
empowering. These discussions brought
a new sense of awareness to the size and
impact our industry has not only in our
home state, but the domestic economy as
a whole. This, indeed, is another way in
which PPAI is getting in touch.
L.E.A.D. is also a powerful tool on the
state level. I just returned fromMichigan’s
L.E.A.D. Local in Lansing at the end of
March where 10 MiPPA members hosted
breakfast for 36 Michigan legislative
representatives and visited an additional
60 offices to make them aware of the
importance promotional products
businesses play in Michigan’s economy;
nearly 8,000 Michigan residents work
for 970 Michigan-based promotional
products businesses. We had a fantastic
turnout and were able to have some
meaningful face-to-face meetings with our
legislative representatives.
Thank You
It is truly amazing what we can all
achieve when we do it together. We need
your voice and action as a PPAI member. I
know we are making a difference to grow
and protect the promotional products
industry. Thank you.
It is truly amazing what we can all achieve
when we do it together. We need your voice
and action as a PPAI member.
4 | MAY 2017 |