December 2020
Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and a Successful New Year!
PPAMidwest News
A Message from our PPAMidwest President...

So long 2020 & Cheers to 2021!

WOW, what a year, right?! 2020 will go down in the books as a global doozy category 5 storm that’s for sure, but guess what? If you’re reading this then WE MADE IT THROUGH 2020 and 2021 is only 2 weeks away. That’s something to collectively celebrate!
 
This year was filled with a lot of really hard times for so many of our industry friends and families and my heart goes out to all that have suffered. The silver lining in the midst of the struggles is that many have learned to persevere and shine in new ways. In the end, COVID 2020 has brought us closer together as an industry, as people, as friends, and as family. 
 
Our PPAMidwest board worked very hard to adapt this year. Without being able to host our big in-person tradeshows and social/philanthropy events, we had to find new virtual ways to serve and connect with our members. Thank goodness for ZOOM, new technology, social media, and some really fun creative minds that made it possible! Our committees did a great job coming together to execute what we could. I’m so proud of the people I get to serve with and so thankful to all our distributor and supplier members who stuck with us, tuned in, and engaged in so many ways!
2020 Highlights:
- 33 Webinars to Date
- 17 Virtual Breakfast or Lunch Sessions
- Fall Trunk or Treat Tailgate Tradeshow was a BIG hit and a welcome breath of fresh air (quite literally)! 2 parking lots, 2 cities, 39 supplier booths, 82 distributor attendees and it was FREE to all and so much fun to feel normal again (with masks of course). 
- 22 NEW Member Companies
- 3 Happy Hours plus we pulled off a Holiday Social with 2 live Holiday Drink Mixologists and a fun Jeopardy game. 
2021 - Bring it! I’m feeling very hopeful that our industry and world will recover and thrive once again by Q2 with new-found energy for life, growth, and appreciation for so many things we’ve missed like: travel, being face-to-face at meetings, lunches, happy hours, trade shows, and don’t forget those hugs and smiles that our very social industry does so well!
Thank you for allowing me to serve this amazing association of people as your PPAMidwest President in 2020.

May you all have a thankful, grateful, and blessed holiday season!

Kerri Nobrega
Outgoing PPAMidwest President
American Solutions for Business Presents
Over 180 Awards to Sales and Home Office Winners

Glenwood, MNAmerican Solutions for Business recently hosted two virtual events to celebrate award winners based on their 2020 fiscal year, presenting to over 180 award recipients. 

The first event was hosted on November 10th to announce sales award winners, emceed by Founder & CEO, Larry Zavadil, awards presented by President, Justin Zavadil, acceptance speeches from award winners and sponsor messages. The event was then followed by a virtual social open to all ASB family and patriot-level supplier partners. Awards presented included President's Club, Million Dollar Clubs, Million Dollar Hubs and individual awards.

Home office awards were presented on November 19th during ASB's ESOP update, hosted by Larry and Justin Zavadil and VP of Finance, Bill Finley. Awards presented included the American Eagle Award, Dave Corradino Memorial Award and Board of Directors Award.
 
"This has not been an easy year for many, but our sales associates and employees never cease to amaze me in their ability to adapt and thrive during adversity," says Justin Zavadil, ASB President. "Our people will always be our most valuable asset, and we're determined to continue forward by always putting them first."
 
This continues a long tradition of American Solutions for Business recognizing the hard work and dedication of its team members.
Did You Know that PPAMidwest has Recorded Informative
Webinars that are available to our members?
As a PPAMidwest member, you have access to these webinars that may be watched when it is convenient for you. By watching a recording you can still earn CAS/MAS credit. 

The webinars may be found HERE on the PPAMidwest website. Please make sure that you are logged in at www.ppam.org with your email address and password as this is a PPAMidwest Member Only benefit. 

Don't know your password? Reset it at any time on the main page to the right of the Log In button.
PPAMidwest Members......
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Industry News
PPAI EXPO DIRECT-2-YOU 2021
January 11-14, 2021 - Virtual Show At Your Desk
Looking For An Outstanding Start To 2021?

PPAI is transforming the online promotional products event experience by introducing a live, virtual trade show beyond compare. PPAI Expo Direct-2-You will introduce you to a reimagined take on the elements you expect - plus a blend of unique ingredients.

Register now for opportunities to:
  • Join other industry professionals in notable networking lounges
  • Hear inspirational and informative speakers and interviews
  • Enjoy special events as well as delightful pop-ups and other surprises
  • Navigate a show floor on a scale only The PPAI Expo producers can deliver

Launch your individual 2021 successes at PPAI Expo Direct-2-You. Join us all four days at this distinctly different promotional products show, January 11-14, 2021.

5 Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Brand Strength and Equity
Justin A Staples  Entrepreneur Leadership Network Writer Principal of JS-INTERACTIVE.COM

Here's why having a powerful brand is more important than ever.

It's not enough to have a competitive advantage in the Covid-19 era. Marketing must adapt to the new normal, and crafting a strong and authentic brand helps with this process.

Brand-building is a long-term initiative that demands patience and persistence, but its benefits are worth the effort. The perks of brand-building are present in both internal and consumer-facing aspects of your business. Read More
PPAI Media
PPB Newslink - 12/10/20
Pantone Names Its Colors Of The Year 2021,
Ultimate Gray And Illuminating

Pantone, the global color authority and provider of professional color language standards and digital solutions for the design community, has named PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, a yellow, as its Pantone Color of the Year selection for 2021, which it describes as conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.

"The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it's not about one color or one person, it's about more than one. The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit."  Read More