PPB September 2019

Rising Stars | FEATURE Tre y Schaefer, CAS, 36 Vice President of Sales Boost Branding, Powered By HALO Branded Solutions Birmingham, Alabama Education Degree in business management, small business and entrepreneurship, with a minor in computer science from The University of Alabama First Industry Job He was introduced to the promotional products industry while attending college in 2001. He worked in customer service for a small commercial printer, Riverhill, that also sold office supplies and promotional products. Prior to graduation, he left Riverhill to start his own distributorship and grew that until he joined EBSCO Creative Concepts in 2012. Why He’s A Rising Star He was described by his nominator as a young talent and confident leader who commands an impressive amount of respect at this point in his career. He previously owned his own distributor company before selling to EBSCO which was sold to Boost Branding. He was promoted three times in three years at EBSCO. Schaefer jumped into serving his regional association, Sunbelt Promotional Products Association (SPPA), as treasurer, RAC delegate, trade-show chair and VP. He becomes president in 2020. What Inspires Him “There are many over the years that have inspired me or influence me on a regular basis, including my father. He works hard on his business but has always made family a priority.” Most Difficult Challenge “Adapting to change. As the former GM of distributor EBSCO Creative Concepts, that was sold to Boost Branding in 2017 and then acquired by HALO Branded Solutions in January 2019, each transition has come with challenges, but I have learned a ton along the way. John F. Kennedy said, ‘Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.’” What He’d Like To Accomplish In The Next 24 Months “I want to continue evolving in my role as a sales leader at Boost. I’d like to continue recruiting sales talent as well as help our current team grow their business to reach their professional goals. Also, next year I will be the president of the SPPA, so I’d like to add as much value as possible to our regional association members.” What’s Needed To Recruit And Retain Young Pros To The Industry “Technology. I am still a huge believer in face-to-face, personal-relationship selling. I don’t think ecommerce can replace this. If you have good technology to help facilitate the sales process, the talent will come. There is a learning curve in our industry. If you can grind it out the first year or two and grow your client base, there is some serious money to be made in sales.” Advice For Industry Newbies “Don’t try to push product, you’ll get overwhelmed and your head will explode. Learn enough to be dangerous and get really good at asking questions that engage your prospects/clients. Figure out how you can make them look good to their boss and you’ll win every time.” Tips To Relax And Recharge “My wife and I have been married for 12 years and have three boys, ages eight, six and three. I love spending time with my family, watching my kids play sports, grilling out on my Big Green Egg and bass fishing at the lake.” | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 35