PPB September 2021

Kirsten Elliott Age 38 Marketing/Sales Director A+ Wine Designs National City, California K irsten Elliott never dreamed she would have a career that combined wine and sales, but she found the perfect match when she joined supplier A+ Wine Designs in 2016. After graduating from Point Loma Nazarene University with a degree in business administration, Elliott went to work in advertising sales. When she was ready for her next move, she saw an A+ Wine Designs sales position while searching on Indeed. com. “Who knew that sales and wine could land me in the promo industry?” she says. The company’s COO Jim Ristuccia, who nominated her as a Rising Star, saw something special in Elliott when he hired her as a salesperson five years ago. Not only did Elliott’s expertise earn her a promotion heading up the five-member sales and marketing teams, but Ristuccia also says Elliott has been instrumental in the company winning four PPAI Pyramid awards over the past year and 12 Pyramids over the past four years that recognize quality, collaboration and customer service. “Kirsten does an amazing job of managing all the diverse functions within her role, from publishing an outstanding catalog and keeping our website and databases current, to developing innovative ways to keep the sales force engaged and productive, to working with clients to solve their promotional product needs. She’s a phenomenal sales professional with the utmost respect and concern for the customer,” says Ristuccia. He’s also impressed with how Elliott managed the sales team through the pandemic in which sales more than doubled in 2020 over 2019. “Kirsten did a really first-rate job dealing with all the issues associated with compressed growth including customer complaints, supply issues, price changes, partner relations and keeping good communication with customers. She’s a collaborative leader. I trust her judgement and always seek her counsel before making major changes. She has a good grasp of what is going on morale-wise and has great suggestions on how to make work fun and engaging.” Biggest challenge in the past year: I would say inventory—across the board. Whether it was inventory on personal items (toilet paper, cleaning supplies, pantry items) or inventory in the supply chain, it was challenging. I found the best way to combat that was by planning ahead and being flexible and as transparent as possible. In the industry, it’s important to work as a team (suppliers and distributors) to reach the end goal. Proudest career accomplishment: Honestly, being a PPB Rising Star. Being recognized in an industry of this size is an honor. Most optimistic about for the industry’s future: I’m excited to see how the industry embraces technology moving forward. The pandemic taught us a lot of things and there were some silver linings. I hope to see more virtual opportunities in the coming years with easier ways to connect with people across the country. Biggest concern for the industry’s future: I would say the rise of end users being able to go direct. It all comes down to the end user. Sometimes you have more time than money, and sometimes you have more money than time. The beauty of the promo industry is that end users typically get “white glove treatment” [when using distributors] compared to going direct. Inspiration: Brené Brown [renowned research professor and best- selling author]. I think living a life of authenticity and vulnerability can be truly rewarding. To accomplish in the next 24 months: A+ Wine Designs is fortunate enough to be in a growth spurt. I’m excited to see what the growth will look like and how far I can push it. Ideas to recruit and retain young pros to the industry: By adapting to the changing times. Our industry is all about networking, and this year has taught us to embrace technology and creativity. Best advice for them: Welcome to the family! Once you enter into this world, the opportunities are endless. FEATURE | Rising Stars 16 | SEPTEMBER 2021 |