PPB December 2018

PPAI Exclusive Research | FEATURE “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order.” —Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947) C hange is an inevitable truth in the business world. With the introduction of personal computers in the early- to mid-1980s, the tempo of transformation has accelerated in every area of our lives and work. (Figure 1) . Despite today’s vast technology and its power to revolutionize our lives, people must drive it. Technology alone cannot bring change; it’s an endless conversion propelled by the work of people. As each generation comes of age, people continue to put their stamp on the world around them. Since January 2016, PPAI has been polling members on a variety of industry-related topics. Beginning in 2018, questions were posed through PPAI’s online education platform that sought to better understand workplace demographics within the promotional products industry. Results revealed key insights, including: • A growing number of Millennial professionals • The industry’s shift towards non-industry experience • Above-average educational attainment levels 1985 Today Figure 1. How The World Has Changed 237.9 Million 325.7 Million $ 3.1 Billion $ 23.3 Billion 33.4 Million 16.9 Million 6,000 35,000 Sources: [1] U.S. Census Bureau [2] Internal Revenue Service, Integrated Business Data (1980-2013) [3] Marjorie J. Cooper, PhD., “Just How Big IS the Specialty Advertising Industry?” (1991) [4] PPAI Research, Sales Volume Study Total U.S. Population [1] Total Businesses [2] Total Distributorships [3] Total Industry Revenue [4] by Moumita Das | DECEMBER 2018 | 63