Did my headline get your attention? I lied. I get a ton of questions from distributors and suppliers about the value of joining a regional trade association. So many inquires, I decided to produce a webinar devoted strictly to Regional Association Involvement, named “The Value of Regional Associations” and why everyone should consider joining.
To set the record straight, I am a BIG believer in regional associations. I belong to the Chesapeake Promotional Products Association (CPPA) and some years back, served as its education chair for five years, I had an amazing time and the reviews that came in after the webinar were outstanding. It was strange to find out that while many people knew that regional associations existed, few knew the profound benefits it could have for them professionally.
So why should you consider joining a Regional Association? The reasons for joining are many, so let’s discuss some of these and what the positive takeaways are.
Education
Membership often includes educational opportunities throughout the year. Most of the time the education is valid for CAS/MAS certification. Over the years I’ve heard some dynamic speakers, Jeff Tobe, Barry Roberts, Paul Bellantone, Paul Kiewit and Tim Brown to name a few. Recently I was introduced to the product safety courses offered by PPAI at MiPPA (Michigan Promotional Products Association) and delivered by Tim Brown. After that four-hour workshop I realized that after nearly 35 years in this business there was still plenty to learn. I find the educational offerings extremely beneficial in furthering my career and give me great information to use during my coaching sessions. Professional development is imperative… do you have a plan for yours?
Shows
Many of us find it difficult to get to major shows throughout the year and the time between shows can be long. Regional shows offer a great alternative, augmenting your connections with vendors throughout the year. There has been a push of late at various regional associations for “end-user shows.” Before you panic let me state that these shows are extremely well organized. I have had the pleasure of attending two, SAAGNY and MiPPA. This opportunity for your clients to see the breath and width of your capabilities is invaluable. A friend and client, Gail Deutchman, a distributor and active board member of SAAGNY, told me she brought 20 clients to their last end-user show. She said the shows offer the best opportunities for writing new business.
Additionally, the trade shows offer a very relaxed environment to reconnect with factory and multi-line reps, and to see what’s new and exciting with not only products but special service offerings from your suppliers.
Networking
There is nothing better than reconnecting and catching up with old friends and colleagues. I have developed and fostered some of my best relationships with both fellow marketers and suppliers at regional association events. Many associations use the monthly meetings as a time to have fun, whether it’s going wine tasting, a baseball or hockey game, or maybe a mock game show or bowling. These networking events are meant to bring people together in a fun, safe environment. One of my fondest experiences was attending a wine-makers dinner sponsored by PMANC in California. Not only did I learn a ton about Dutton-Goldfield wines, I met some great people whose friendships I treasure to this day. One the best quotes I’ve heard recently is “in order to have a friend you need to be one.”
Giving Back
During the webinar I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I interviewed Haines Maxwell with CAAMP, Gail Deutchman with SAAGNY, Paul Zafarana with MiPPA, and Bettse Andrade with AZPPA. Each of these folks are principals of their own companies yet they make time to give back. Each have either served on their respective boards or are currently doing so. When asked, “Why do you do it?” each had a similar answer: they want to contribute, give back, make a difference and elevate their game and make the industry better. You can’t do any of that without involvement through contribution.
Worth the Money
When you consider the many benefits, what do you think it would cost? For most the membership runs between $100 and $150 annually. That’s value! With regard to membership, the late Joe Charbaneau stated, “You’ve gotta’ give, give, give before you get, get, get and the more you give, the more you get – it’s called the law of reciprocity.”
Additional Information
Below are three links that will assist you in finding your specific regional association, contact information and a well-prepared FAQ list to answer your questions. Should you have additional requests you can either contact me (cquicksell@ipromoteu.com) or your local association for answers.
• http://www.ppai.org/join/still-not-convinced/regional-association-information
• http://www.regionalassociation.org/
• http://www.regionalassociation.org/regional-map/
I promise, if you engage and get involved, the benefits will be amazing!
Until next time, continued good selling!
For more than 30 years, Cliff has been speaking, training and consulting internationally to associations and national business groups on more effective ways to market themselves, their products and services, as well as motivating their personnel. Recognized by PPAI for his creativity, he has won the prestigious PPAI Pyramid award 25 times, and the Printing Industry's PSDA’s Peak Award for creativity five times in three years. He has also received PPAI's Ambassador Speaker of the Year Award six consecutive years and was the inaugural recipient of PPAI's Distinguished Service Award. Named one of top six industry speakers and trainers, he also was recognized by PPAI in the book, "PPAI at 100," as having a significant influence in education. He has also been recognized by Counselor Magazine as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in the Promotional Products Industry. You can engage with Cliff at http://www.myengagepage2.com/cliffquicksell.