PPB February 2020

Jacques Ma r a i s I f there’s anyone who tirelessly pursues what he loves with a ceaseless curiosity for the experience, it’s Jacques Marais. Marais speaks four languages— Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish—he is a patisserie chef, he has certificates in junior scuba diving and intermediate photography, and he’s the managing director of Creative Marketing Concepts’ San Jose office, where he has consistently grown and exceeded the company’s sales goals for nearly seven years. Like many, Marais did not discover his love for promo until entering the industry; an entirely new experience for him, as he had already begun a career in the film industry. He has a degree in film and media production, but pursued his new interest head-on in hopes of an even greater adventure. True love, he says, is what led to his decision to move 10,000 miles away, relocating from South Africa, where he’s from, to California. But he says that decision brought him to “the next best thing to happen” to him: the promo industry. While in South Africa, Marais had spent years climbing the ranks in the film industry, assuming that his experience would translate into elevated opportunities with a higher salary in the U.S., but this wasn’t the case: Marais would have to start over again. Faced with the dilemma of having to work his way up, again, he thought to himself, “If I’m starting at the bottom, why not do something completely different?” A hard decision, but one that proved fruitful, Marais had already been working part time at Creative Marketing Concepts, and when he mentioned his intent to his boss, he was met with support. “He saw the potential in me and threwme into the deep end as an assistant, and later as a sales manager,” he says. “It was quite a shock, but so necessary for my own personal growth. I’m so grateful for that opportunity, and in the end, things seem to have come full circle, as we are now partnered with a film production and distribution company in Europe, which has allowed greater promotional reach than ever before.” Marais continues to set the bar high for himself. This year, his sales goals include a 20-percent sales growth, adding three new six-figure accounts, strengthening reach with existing seven-figure accounts and increasing profit by lowering factory costs through order consolidation, allowing for discounted client rates and “adding to our competitive edge in this space,” he says. And personally? He’s looking to take a finance class—something he believes “will add a new dimension to the office dynamic and will allow for greater collaboration between teams internally.” He also wants to take flying lessons, with hopes to eventually earn his pilot’s license. PPB spoke with Marais to learn what truly makes him tick. PPB Tell us about a particular experience you’ve had that influenced your work in sales. Marais I had one experience that taught me a lot about being direct with clients and when to push back instead of just being a “yes-man” and paying for it later. It was a global project with a firm rollout date where seven products A Renaissance Man In Promo And Beyond Jacques Marais of Creative Marketing Concepts has successfully grown the distributor’s sales year over year—and it’s because he knows the value of ongoing personal development. by Danielle Renda CONNECT 76 | FEBRUARY 2020 |