PPB May 2020

PPAI Pandemic Response Offers Resources, Support For Members In response to disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, PPAI has assembled a range of resources to assist industry companies and practitioners to help them navigate these unprecedented times. The services and opportunities available are intended to provide a wide range of support, guidance and utility. Coronavirus Information Page – This page is continuously updated and includes helpful links to the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, industry news as it relates to the virus, the latest updates on PPAI events and a recently added section for regional event updates. It can be found at www. ppai.org/coronavirus-information. Supplier Status Update Page – PPAI has created a web page for suppliers to share status updates about their business operations. This is an informative resource to learn about new safety measures, adjusted hours, temporary closures and factory cleaning methods straight from suppliers. It can be found at www.ppai.org/unique/coronavirus- related-supplier-updates. Promo Connect – Promo Connect, PPAI’s online community, is a valuable resource to directly connect with other industry professionals and can be found at community.ppai.org/home. The Association is seeing a spike in communication activity via this platform on a variety of topics. Free Online Learning – PPAI is making all education courses—more than 300 offerings—via PPAI’s online education platform, onlineeducation.ppai.org, free to PPAI members. Human Resources Assistance – PPAI’s affinity partner, Affinity HR Group at affinityhrgroup. com/ppai, is a national HR consulting firm specializing in addressing the needs of small- to mid-sized businesses. Affinity HR Group is staffed by a group of seasoned HR professionals with years of combined experience providing sound people support to clients nationwide. Affinity HR’s team offers PPAI members exclusive member- only discounts on a wide range of HR services. PPAI Volunteer: Kirby Hasseman Volunteers from the promotional products industry are an important and vital part of PPAI’s success. In this second installment of an ongoing PPB series introducing the volunteers and initiatives that have helped make the Association what it is today, attention turns to Kirby Hasseman, owner of distributor Hasseman Marketing & Communications in Coshocton, Ohio. He is author of The Give First Economy and host of Delivering Marketing Joy , a podcast in which he interviews industry members, and the Start & Stop online video series, where he discusses different topics in relation to getting started, following through and finishing. Hasseman recently joined PPAI at the American Marketing Association’s International Collegiate Conference, held March 13-14 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to speak to an audience of marketing students from colleges and universities around the world on the promotional products industry, its community and careers. At the conference, Hasseman focused on how the best marketing campaigns are created and how promotional products weave so well into them. His presentation also looked at how branded merchandise can take a good campaign and make it exceptional and long-lasting. “Promotional products and branded merchandise play such an important part of any good marketing campaign, so it stands to reason that we, as an industry, would take the time to chat with up-and-coming marketers from around the country about how to use our media well,” says Hasseman, speaking on the importance of PPAI and his participation in the conference. “Our industry wants to be an amazing landing spot for some of the best future talent. When it comes to marketing, this is where that talent is.” 80 | MAY 2020 | CONNECT