PPB June 2021

38 THE YEAR OF THE PIVOT— BUT SALES STILL PLUNGED Despite extraordinary efforts to find new markets, products and clients, 2020 promotional products sales fell 19 percent from the year before, with large distributors reporting the steepest decline. 43 TOUGH TIMES, STRONGER COMPANIES Getting through 2020 was a challenge, but distributors are roaring back. 4 Perspectives How CSR Guides And Strengthens Today’s Businesses 8 Feedback 11 INNOVATE 12 Question Blind Shipping—What Does It Mean To You? 14 Personal Development Getting Hired 101 18 Eye On Apparel Born In The U.S.A. 25 GROW 26 Editor's Picks The American Dream 36 Sales 10 Steps To A Powerful Sales Force 54 Market To Market Colleges And Universities 63 THINK 64 Profile Dave Saracino, Charles River Apparel 69 Fast Forward A Pancake Slipper Giveaway 76 Five Minutes With Mike Pfeiffer, American Solutions for Business 78 Marketing Nine Ways To Build Your Personal Brand 83 CONNECT 84 Close Up Jason Lucash, Batch & Bodega 88 PPPC Communiqué 91 Inside PPAI 97 New Members 101 Datebook 106 The Creative Calendar Africa Studio / Giordano Aita / Lev Kropotov / Shutterstock.com. Photo illustration by SPARK Publications. Sergey Nivens / Shutterstock.com. Cover: Andrii Vodolazhskyi / Numax3D Creations / SujaImages / Shutterstock.com contents Promotional Products Business The Official Business Monthly of Promotional Products Association International JUNE 2021 | JUNE 2021 | 3