PPB May 2020

shop. PPAI .org “In short, I read where the crisis will help us figure out how to make our businesses survive. I can already see that this crisis is helping me be a better businessman as well as a better husband, dad, granddad and community activist, and that’s important because I am determined to prove that business broker wrong; that my business is worth more than the valuation he put on it. I’ll work smarter as well as harder to make my vision become a reality.” Rama Beerfus, MAS, owner of Lev Promotions in San Diego, California, is trying to touch base with as many clients as she can to see if they’re all right and to ask if there’s any way she can help themwith their client and prospect outreach plans during this time. Unfortunately, many of Beerfus’s clients are trade-showmarketers and managers—a segment that has been particularly hard hit due to the cancellation and postponement of events, trade shows and conferences. As a result, many of her clients were furloughed or laid off and some aren’t sure if they’ll have a job to come back to when this is all over, at least for the short term. Beerfus is working to help them remain positive. “For clients that have their employees working from home, we’re putting together appreciation gifts and what I’ve dubbed as ‘keep your sanity’ gifts for their employees. In some cases, we’re doing that for their clients and ‘essential’ employees who are coming into the workplace,” she says. “For those clients whom I’ve been able to reach but are now unemployed, I’m asking for their resumes and permission to send links to their LinkedIn page to try to help them find jobs when this is all over if not before.” Business is equally bad in Fort Worth, Texas, where Brian Jolin, CAS, runs Jolin Promo. He reports that most of his clients’ events are cancelled and budgets are frozen. “I have 100 brilliant ideas for clients to send to their staff and clients who are working at home, and while people are very receptive to the idea of branding and gifting, they simply are locking down almost all of their purchases with hopes of meeting payroll as long as possible.” However, he has had a couple of successes. “I had amedical client who ordered branded bandanas for their patients who are experiencing coughs/ sneezing to wear since there is a shortage of medical masks. These will also be fun pet gifts at a later date. I also had one new client who ordered rush ‘Covid-Free’ celebration t-shirts for their staff that completed a two- week quarantine.” As far as trying to solicit and inspire some new projects, Jolin’s company participates in the AIMbuying group and each quarter it puts together amerchandise box that highlights participating supplier items using a theme. He usually has the order shipped to himself and hands themout when visiting client offices, but when he learned the New Reality | FEATURE | MAY 2020 | 47