A Message from our CPPA President......
Good April my friends,
In my recent article in PromoCorner entitled, “It’s Back…Are Your Ready?” I wrote about the ensuing surge of business that is beginning to take hold. It is both refreshing and needed after a long, grueling thirteen months of lock downs, mask wearing and uncertainty – time to breathe – but not too long, we have work to do.
I work with a large group of people, and for those I consult with regularly, business is coming back rapidly. Some are saying the quoting has been overwhelming – business is becoming brisk again, it’s a good thing. Businesses are eager to be back on track, anxious to get the engines running, and the cash rolling in. All of this takes planning, strategy, execution, and engagement.
Are you ready?
Most think we are, however some dynamics have changed - lead-times, inventory, shipping issues, and production times. None of us has a crystal ball but what we do have is the ability to communicate and ask questions:
- If you have company stores for your clients, shortage of inventory may/will impact availability and your ability to fill orders.
- Delays in shipments may cause in-hands dates to be missed.
- The list goes on and on.
Getting ahead of the wave.
Ask questions and communicate. Do NOT assume that everything is good. Connect with your suppliers and ask questions.
Suppliers
- Ask your vendors what are their current inventory levels?
- Do they foresee issues with inventory in the future?
- How do they see freight issues impacting the supply chain in 2021?
At the end of the day, there are four critical points to remember:
Time is money, your time is money – being proactive will streamline YOUR costs and this will translate into ultimate cost savings and less pressure down the road.
Plan – have an executable plan of action for every aspect of your business: projected sales and profit revenue, sales strategies and goals, marketing strategies. Understand how to achieve those with proper planning with your clients.
Questions Are the Answer – if you are not asking the questions now of your vendors, suppliers, and clients, you will be creating unnecessary stress and frustration. Get the answers, ask questions, and formulate a plan.
Communicate – be the first to market, help your clients effectively plan, communicate potential issues in advance. No one likes to hear bad news, but alerting clients before some potential issue occurs is better than the alternative.
My friends, we have an amazing opportunity in 2021, and what better way to connect with your supplier partners, ask these questions, and share ideas then to get involved in CPPA at our shows, networking & philanthropic events.
Share with your friends, staff, and colleagues We want to see you…we miss you.
You’ve got this! Together we can accomplish everything!
Cliff Quicksell, MAS+
President, CPPA
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THANK YOU to everyone that attended or exhibited at the 2021 CPPA Spring Showcase this week!
It was wonderful to see everyone in person and reconnect safely. Your participation and support helped to make the show a huge success. We can't wait to see you at our upcoming events!
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Mark Your Calendars for our Upcoming Webinars! |
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April 22, 2021 Webinar:
The 4 Key Steps to Creating the Perfect 15-Second Pitch
12:30 PM
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April 27, 2021 Webinar: Get YOUR Head in the Game so You Are Ready for the Comeback!
12:30 PM
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May 5, 2021 Webinar:
Do YOU like Salt & Lime with your Margarita?!
12:30 PM
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May 6, 2021 Webinar:
The In's and Out's of Packaging, Kitting & Fulfillment
12:30 PM
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May 12, 2021 Webinar:
Get to Know Ad-N-Art/CNIJ, Bulldog Packaging and A+Wine Designs
12:30 PM
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May 26, 2021 Webinar:
No One Cares About
Your Logo
12:30 PM
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alphabroder Names Dan Pantano As New CEO
The board of directors of supplier alphabroder has announced that Dan Pantano, currently president of alphabroder-Prime Line, has been promoted to CEO and elected to the board of directors, effective immediately. Pantano replaces Norm Hullinger, CAS, who has been with the company for the past 18 years and currently serves on the PPAI board.
Pantano joined the Trevose, Pennsylvania-based company in 2013 as president, leading the commercial side of the business. Commenting on the promotion, he says, “I couldn’t be more excited to take over the leadership of alphabroder-Prime Line at this time. Our customers are focused on growing their businesses profitably, especially as our industry rebounds from COVID-19. Our job is to help them do that each and every day and do it as seamlessly as possible. We will have a relentless focus on that going forward.”
In a statement, alphabroder credits Pantano and his team with building a world-class sales and marketing organization. Following the additions of Ash City, Bodek & Rhodes, Golden State T’s and Prime Line to the alphabroder family, he worked with all aspects of these businesses to integrate them into the organization and enhance the customer experience. Under Pantano’s direction, alphabroder has expanded its Private Brand business and elevated product offerings by bringing in leading retail brands including Under Armor, PUMA, Spyder and Nautica.
Michael Klein, CEO of Littlejohn & Co, alphabroder’s majority shareholder and a member of the board of directors, says, “We have been working with Dan for more than eight years and look forward to alphabroder’s future under his experienced leadership to take the company to the next level of performance and position it as the undisputed leader in this industry.”
In the statement, the company added: “alphabroder thanks Norm Hullinger for his 18 years of service to the company and his outstanding contributions to alphabroder-Prime Line and the industry overall.”
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PCNA Launches New Website Designed To Simplify Customer Experience
Pittsbutge PA - Polyconcept North America (PCNA) launched a new full-service website, the centerpiece of a company-wide rebranding designed to make its best-in-class experience even better for distributors.
“Today is truly an exciting day,” Polyconcept CEO Neil Ringel says. “The new website and overall rebranding represent another milestone on our continuous journey to provide distributors with the very best experience in the promotional products industry. “Our promise is this,” Ringel continues. “To provide an easy, reliable service experience and perfectly decorated products delivered on time, every time.”
While the new website still can be found at www.pcna.com, it’s got a fresh look and feel with a variety of functional enhancements that will allow distributors to do their jobs more quickly and effectively. Highlights include:
- Quick, accurate product quotes: Distributors can now configure a line-item quote with product, quantity and decoration, get an accurate cost, and place an order on the spot.
- Better product search: Distributors can search by brand, product, quantity, SKU or price range, returning results that allow them to find more of what they need faster.
- Easy-to-create virtuals: Initial deployment of a new visualization tool that uses refined decoration data to instantaneously produce lifelike virtuals.
- A faster, more modern platform: The site features quick access to expert service through live chat and a responsive design that’s optimized for both desktop and mobile users.
In addition to the new website, PCNA has simplified how distributors place orders, introducing a single process for its large family of brands. The change underscores the company’s commitment to creating an easier, more reliable customer experience. Other recent service initiatives include Perfectly Packaged, which provides decorative packaging and unlimited drop shipments, and an enhanced large-order quoting process that promises a response in as little as an hour. The company also has invested an additional $10 million in inventory to ensure deep in-stock positions for its most popular items, so distributors can be assured their favorite products are readily available.
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Distributor Members......
Are you taking advantage of our Member Only Coupon Book which includes tons of savings? Average savings is $500 which well pays for your membership!
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Don't Hide Your Best Work! |
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5 Reasons To Enter The PPAI Pyramid Awards
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Gain New Business - It’s no secret — winning awards can help you land bigger accounts and even some high-paying clients.
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Motivate Employees - A great way to encourage employee engagement is to have their work recognized by industry peers at a national level.
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Build Stronger Client Relationships - Showing your clients your award-winning campaigns will increase confidence in your work and your team.
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Get Your Name Out There - In the world of marketing, positive publicity and getting your name recognized can lead to new and bigger business opportunities.
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Attract Top Talent - Top talent wants to work for the top industry companies who win awards. It’s as simple as that.
You've worked hard, make sure your creative work gets the recognition it deserves
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How to Make Your Website Your Best Salesperson, and Not Your Worst Money Pit
Frank Wazeter * Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor * Website Developer & Digital Strategist
Start creating list segments based on actions users don't take.
Most businesses get customers from word of mouth because it’s a channel driven by people talking to people. Business owners and salespeople are able to find new clients and close deals because they have intuition and experience. When you’re in a conversation with someone, you’re able to suss out what concerns them, address their questions and share compelling stories that showcase why you’re the best solution to their problem.
We ask websites to replicate the same savviness that a seasoned sales professional or business owner has in a conversation. We want our website to be a master communicator and we ask it to be able to dynamically address questions, concerns and create a relationship built on trust.
But here's the problem: A website doesn’t have a brain. It can't talk or think. A site can only display the information coded into it. Even if a website is graphically stunning, it can still fail at the core task of communicating with the customer. If it fails to communicate with a potential customer, it’s simply not doing its job. Read More
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PPAI Virtual Event Series |
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Learn and connect this year with PPAI's Direct-2-You Virtual Event Series. These events are packed with timely, industry-focused topics specific for the promotional products industry. Conveniently and safely engage with world-class experts and thought leaders from the comfort
of your home or office.
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