PPB November 2020

PromoPolls Spotlights Industry Perspectives On e Issues PPAI’s PromoPolls are a series of quick, informal, twice-weekly polls published in every issue of PPB Newslink that capture the promotional product industry’s opinions on a wide range of relevant topics. Several of PromoPolls’ recent questions to industrymembers quizzed themon how they were operating their businesses during the pandemic. Among their insights are: • For 26 percent of respondents, personalized emails have been the most successful sales/prospecting tactic at this time, although phone calls (24 percent) run a close second. • Ninety-six percent of distributors’ largest clients are now open, and 78 percent of them are buying again. • More than half (57 percent) of respondents say their productivity levels have changed during the pandemic and they’re evenly split in saying they’ve become more and less productive. To learn more about the polls’ findings, participate in the latest polls and see how industry peers have responded to other topical questions, visit pubs.ppai.org/polls. New PromoTalks Podcasts Share Buyers’ Perspectives And Look At How Businesses Can Innovate PPAI’s PromoTalks podcast series, which began in March, brings industry thought leaders, business executives and subject matter experts together for insightful, engaging conversations relevant to promotional products professionals and their businesses. PromoTalks’ recent episodes include “ PPB Presents: The Dynamics That Are Changing Buyers’ Businesses,” in which listeners heard firsthand from two buyers about what’s impacting their businesses and how they’re adapting in the COVID-19 era. Director of publications and editor at PPAI, Tina Berres Filipski, moderated the conversation with special guests Kelli Denes, MAS, director of business development, and Nicole Van Vleck, MAS, account executive, both with The Vernon Company, and their clients Keith, who is marketing services manager and director of community relations at a construction material and contracting company in Northern California, and Jeff, president and chief operating officer for a family-owned sustainable winery with vineyards in several locations in Northern California. In the episode, the buyers candidly discussed how they’ve adapted to this new environment, the biggest challenges they’ve faced and the future of their marketing programs. The podcast series also featured, in “ PPB Presents Innovation: Why It’s Vital For A Thriving Business,” a conversation on the power innovation has to transform a business and disrupt an industry. In the episode, Filipski moderated a discussion with Vicki Ostrom, trend editor at SanMar Corporation and author of the new trends blog, Trendependent, and Jason Lucash, senior vice president, marketing and innovation, at HPG Brands. The session dived into how businesses can benefit from innovation, why innovation should be a priority and where inspiration can come from, as well as how industry professionals can cultivate and encourage more innovation in their own businesses. Tune in to listen to these insightful and helpful discussions and many more, available free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and at pubs.ppai.org . 94 | NOVEMBER 2020 | CONNECT