PPB February 2018

feed back Send feedback on articles in PPB or opinions on industry issues to JamesK@ppai.org . The Benefits Of Membership The Get In Touch! campaign is a PPAI-led industry-wide initiative encouraging advertising buyers to recognize the power of promotional products and allocate a larger share of theirmarketing dollars to the industry. It offers tools to help industrymembers incorporate customizable elements of the campaign into their content marketing strategies. It’s just one of the wide range of benefits, assistance and opportunities PPAI offers to promotional products companies and professionals. [Get InTouch!] is a perfect five-star ad campaign. I had been searching for content formywebsite. I became amember of PPAI recently, and fromthemoment I did, I have been floodedwith connections, resources, information and tools to helpme succeed. Thank you! DEB BLECHA Owner Graphically Deb Aberdeen, Washington PPAI 724159 Debating The Value Of Swag In “Why theWord ‘Swag’ Isn’t Helping Our Industry,” published in the November issue of PPB , Ben Baker, president of Your Brand Marketing, advocated for amove away from the term, saying it devalued the work of the industry’s professionals. Last month’s issue featured feedback fromreaders with perspectives on both sides of the issue. An engaging subject, the debate continues. I guess perception and howwemarket our own brand tells a lot. I love theword swag and at all costs try not to use the term“promotional products.”Maybe it’s a generational thing, but when I use the termpromotional products, my clients and I think “cheap plastic stuff.”My clients love the termswag and think that cool stuff and quality is a given. They know exactlywhat I sell, and because of theway Imarketmy company, they know that I will be suggesting and selling thema bit of swagger to go alongwith their branded logo products. JACKIE MARSOLAIS Creative Director Savvy Graphics, Inc. Fort Lauderdale, Florida PPAI 668991 I honestly couldn’t care less what they call it as long as they are calling us to have a dialogue. Fromthere, we can direct the conversation to create clearer understanding of what I call “investing opportunities in their brand and business.” Oncewe’ve had the conversation, the terms begin to take on newmeaning or understanding, or they just “reframe” the words tomatch their thoughts because now we all knowbetter. CHRIS WACHOWIAK Branding Investment Advisor C & E Specialties, Inc. Rockford, Illinois PPAI 256190 The Value In A Guide To Industry Graphics In aDecember 2017 article, Tee Hamilton, owner of CreativeAlchemy and a designer/illustrator whoworks with suppliers, distributors and service providers within the promotional products industry, shared best practices on artwork and graphics. Thank you for an article that I wish I had read 15 years ago when I first started in the promotional product business. And your explanations, in simple, easy-to-understand language, are great for sharingwith clients who are not educated regarding art files. Thank you! RENE RICHARDS Account Executive Cedric Spring & Associates St. Charles, Illinois PPAI 108800 8 | FEBRUARY 2018 |