PPB June 2020

Moore, who describes his digital marketing and media company PromoCorner as a “virtual workplace,” has used videoconferencing and messaging services for years. After learning about the impending lockdown, he says, he knew he needed to do something. “It has been a great distraction to work on this project,” he admits. “It provided me with an outlet to stay focused and busy, and afforded me the opportunity to fill a void and make a difference.” Using PromoShow, vendors can set their own schedules to determine when they appear active on the site. If active, or present, videoconferencing can take place at the click of a mouse. If vendors are not present, distributors can request private meetings with them through the website. Vendors can also upload pre-recorded content, along with digital catalogs and any current offerings they may have. There are also plans for PromoShow to add a chat feature, Moore says, which will allow distributors and vendors to directly communicate outside of meetings. “We truly believe the possibilities for this medium are endless as we move forward.” Together with a team, Moore began working on the PromoShow website on March 20, and went live just four days later. He says that from PromoShow’s launch through late April, the website attracted more than 8,000 visitors and 40,000 pageviews, and registrations are growing. He believes the platform will be relevant even after the pandemic and he will continue adding “themed shows and room shows throughout the year,” with hopes for a signature event later this year. “Ultimately, we hope to create a single portal for communication for the entire industry, virtually,” says Moore. In addition to videoconferencing and meeting capabilities, PromoShow also publishes weekly content, including Unscripted LIVE! and Industry Insider , which feature live discussions, via videoconferencing, between promo professionals and special guests; The Promo Music Roundtable , a fun listen where promo pros discuss what their dream band would look like; and Express Training Bites , where pros share their tips, tricks and strategies related to industry topics. Moore says there are plans to offer an in-depth education series later in the summer and to continue introducing content into the fall. CHRIS VERNON, MAS President and CEO, The Vernon Company Newton, Iowa The coronavirus pandemic and related stay-at-home mandates forced companies and employees to change the way they communicate. One of the greatest shifts has been toward using digital technology for staff, team and client meetings, along with other events like virtual breakfasts, lunches and happy hours to keep staff engaged. Before the pandemic, The Vernon Company had been planning its annual national sales meeting, a conference that has been held at a different location in the U.S. every spring for decades. But it was clear that major changes were needed to keep the traditionally in-person conference— which was scheduled to be held in Charleston, South Carolina—up and running. The distributor acted quickly, while adhering to the stay-at-home and six-foot social distancing mandates, by hosting the conference online. The conference, which is held to recognize the company’s salesforce and is attended by about 200 account executives and suppliers, provided attendees with live education sessions, which included up-close-and-personal sessions with new salespeople, small group roundtable discussions with supplier partners, morning coffee sessions and a virtual trade show featuring The Vernon Company’s top supplier partners. Using the videoconferencing platformZoom to connect with attendees, The Vernon Company made the decision to migrate the event from in-person to online in just two weeks. Initially, the company was planning to cancel it. “We had the entire trip planned, we saw [the coronavirus] happening, we knew people were already telling us they wouldn’t travel, and so we decided to cancel it,” says Chris Vernon, president and CEO of The Vernon Company. But with the input of the company’s sales management team, the company decided to host its three-day event over the course of a week, breaking up the events into more digestible segments, beginning onMonday, April 27, by recognizing Million Dollar Club members—salespeople whose sales for the year exceeded $1 million. During the award ceremonies held throughout the week, attendees were asked to dress up. “We made it appear like we were on stage,” he says. It was certainly a difference from the April 2019 conference, which was held at Paradise Point Resort in San Diego, California, and opened with a group competition on the beach. But nonetheless, Vernon says the response from the sales team and suppliers was very positive. “It was off the charts. We’ve never done anything virtual like this to this kind of scale,” he “Ultimately, we hope to create a single portal for communication for the entire industry, virtually.” — JOEL MOORE | JUNE 2020 | 15 INNOVATE