The IMA has been championing the efficacy and engagement potential of incentives with key audiences for over a decade. Recent feedback and events indicate the efforts are paying off. Additionally we are bringing great information back to you, our members.

Many have contributed to this effort along the way. The careful nurturing support of our founding Executive Director, Karen Renk, and the tireless commitment of members such as Pete Mitchell and Michelle Smith, to name just a few, have all contributed to the progress we are making today.

This year is off to a strong start. The IMA has presented education at three major promotional product industry events. Having participated in this sort of thing for many years, I can tell you that at some past events our total attendance was only a few dozen people. So far this year we have logged attendance of over 500 attendees! More importantly, these promotional product professionals have asked very insightful questions, a sure sign that they are truly interested, not just "kicking the tires". Feedback from the participants at the Brand pavilions of these meetings indicates increased engagement and business activity. The acquisition in the last few days of Michael C. Fina Recognition by promotional product giant HALO is another indication that our efforts to educate and develop this market have had an impact.

This increased engagement is reflected in our industry's growth from its modest beginnings into a $90-billiion-a-year industry as shown by the Incentive Federation Inc., industry size study. Studies by the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and our own IMA and SIG studies, conducted by the IRF, are also showing growth and new opportunities. These studies have been game changers. The IMA circulates this information widely to all of our members and those who take advantage of the information are experiencing success.

We're also learning it's about asking the right question. Previously we compared parallel programs running cash against incentive products (including name brand merchandise, gift cards and travel/experiential opportunities). We quoted top business minds. Still, we ran up against the bottom line foreman who would maintain, "When I ask my guys what they want, they all say cash." The IMA's "Participant Study" gave us an invaluable new way to address this claim. It turns out that the answer these people were getting was to the wrong question!  If we ask, "What do you want?" the default answer is cash. If we ask people to choose between incentive merchandise, gift cards, travel/experiential or cash, the incentive option wins. I have personally turned several noes into yeses since learning this remarkable statistic.

IMA presentations have occurred on five continents since the last Summit, establishing our position as an industry leader in the incentive arena. Over 50 registrations have occurred during the same period for people seeking to take our Principles of Result-Based Incentive Programs and take the exam to qualify for the Incentive Professional (IP) designation. This is a tremendous advance over the handful of participants in the previous year.

The opportunity to promote our overall industry and increase your personal prosperity has never been better, and I'd like to offer you several opportunities to be a part of this process:

1. Participate in the new IMA Industry Expert Bureau
2. Present an education session at the 2017 IMA Summit 
3. Attend the Keynote addresses, education sessions, and SIG meetings and take advantage of the  networking available at the upcoming Summit

I urge you to participate, share what you know and learn what you need through the tremendous opportunities available to you as a member of IMA!

Sincerely,
Sean Roark, CPIM
Vice President, Incentive Programs
PromoPros/IncentPros, Inc.
President, IMA

I am looking forward to chairing the IMA Circle of Excellence Awards Task Force. The task force plans to focus on continuing to build awareness of the awards and expanding the reach of the post-awards public relations. We look forward to showcasing the wonderful achievements of IMA members!

Circle of Excellence Awards applications will be available starting on February 20 and will be due April 21.  Start thinking about successful incentive programs you and your company have implemented in the last year and be sure to send in an application telling us about your most successful programs. We are excited to see all the great work everyone has been doing the past year!

Sincerely,
Mike Landry
Tumi, Inc.

The Summit Sponsorship Sales Team invites all members and incentive industry professionals to take a special role in the Annual IMA Summit and education conference via sponsorship.  Detail is now available on our website. We encourage you to review the benefits of the display and sponsorship opportunities.

Sponsor opportunities were designed specifically to:

• Give members and other industry organizations greater visibility in front of the incentive community
• Help educate members about emerging and current trends in the incentive industry
• Showcase your company's products to the incentive industry.

Support IMA in continuing to offer an annual conference with high-quality training and education opportunities for incentive marketers
 
Join the dream and lock in exposure for your company today!

REGISTER NOW