Another week, another plane, another city, another hotel…..very different reason.
In my role here at PromoCorner, I do my fair share of traveling – an experience that’s usually a lot more Planes, Trains, and Automobiles than The Bucket List, but I digress. This week is different, however, because I have the honor of traveling to Washington, DC to meet with members of Congress to advocate for the promotional products industry as part of Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.) during Promotional Products Work! Week. Alongside 65 other industry professionals, I will discuss how specific legislation impacts the small business owners that comprise 96% of suppliers, distributors, and service providers. Honestly, I can’t get on that plane fast enough.
However, Promotional Products Work! Week is more than L.E.A.D. and everyone in the industry can – and should – participate.
For an industry focused on solving the branding challenges of clients of all shapes and sizes, we continue to have our own perception problem. The simple fact is that many people outside of the promotional products world don’t really view our medium as a productive vehicle for targeted marketing or advertising nor do they understand how much specific legislation impacts individual businesses. To help combat this, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) started a program seven years ago called Promotional Products Work! Week. The idea is simple in its brilliance: five daily activities over the course of a week to celebrate and communicate the value that promotional products create.
Monday – Kick Off the Week
Suggested activity: Invite your clients, prospects, local media, and government officials to an open house, company tour, or a lunch-and-learn
Tuesday – Advocate for the Industry
Suggested activity: Offer to speak at colleges, clubs, or business groups about careers, entrepreneurship and the power of promotional merchandise
Wednesday – Reach Out for a Good Cause
Suggested activity: Volunteer your time or donate promotional products to support a local charity, school, or a homeless shelter
Thursday – Get on Your Soapbox
Suggested activity: PPAI has informative and verifiable industry data for you to share our industry’s impact of the economy with legislators, politicians and government officials. If you need help with this, use PPAI's "Little Black Book" which can be found here.
Friday – Thank Your Customers
Suggested activity: Host a customer appreciation day and distribute some personalized thank you gifts.
I’ve had the great fortune of being a part of this industry for 20 years and during that time I’ve been blessed by so many people helping me. As such, I feel it's my responsibility to give back and PPAI’s Promotional Products Work! Week is a great opportunity to not only give back to make our industry stronger, but to share our greater impact on the economy to a new audience. If you’re interested, you can find a veritable potpourri of information and tools by clicking here and downloading the toolkit.
Promotional products do work. It’s time we share that message and be proud of the value we create for our clients.
Bill is president of PromoCorner, the leading digital marketing service provider to the promotional products industry, and has over 18 years working in executive leadership positions at leading promotional products distributorships. A featured speaker at numerous industry events, a serial creator of content marketing, president of the Regional Association Council (RAC) board, and PromoKitchen chef, Bill has extensive experience coaching sales teams, creating successful marketing campaigns, and developing branding that resonates with a target audience. He can be reached at bill@PromoCorner.com.