Did U Know An Explosion of Greatness Awaits?

End buyers want greatness when it comes to promotional products, which means distributors need a steady stream of greatness-inducing ideas. Enter Promotional Consultant Digital — the award-winning e-zine designed specifically for distributors. With thought-provoking topics and real-world sales advice, tips, tricks and trends, PC Digital is exploding with ideas.




To read the latest issue or catch up on what you may have missed, click PC Digital.

Did U Know You Can Get Fail-Safe Protection?

Late last year, 57 hard drives containing 220,000 social security numbers (among other things) were stolen from a BlueCross BlueShield call center. The theft affected some 500,000 people. So, here’s the question … is your company protected?

With PPAI Business Partner CoreVault, an online data backup and recovery service, you can rest assured that even your most sensitive files are secure.

For less than $20 a month (that’s exclusive, members-only pricing!), CoreVault offers fail-safe protection of your business files — including billing and accounts receivable info — by moving the records off-site automatically. CoreVault also encrypts your confidential data for increased security and then stores it in two private, geographically separate data centers, so it’s safe from regional weather concerns.

Safety first means fail-safe. Click protection for details.

Did U Know You Can Prove Your Case With PPAI’s Latest Sales Video?

Cutting through the clutter to reach your customers is often a tough job ... one that requires a little extra “something”. Well, great news, PPAI’s got the latest something …

The second release in the “People Love Promotional Products” video series is fresh from the production house and now available for download on the Distributor Tool Center. Love In The Kitchen—Promotional Products Work! is an informative sales tool that focuses on the No. 1 room where people use—and keep—their promotional products: the kitchen.

By highlighting the most frequently mentioned tools, as well as showcasing compelling facts and figures in a fast-paced format, this second video (in the four-part series) provides you with an opportunity to start a conversation, to prove your point, to sell the industry, all in about 60 seconds.

Cook up an impressive ROI for you and your customers by downloading your free copy of Love In The Kitchen—Promotional Products Work! and post on your website/social media channels or use as a visual aid during sales calls. Click kitchen to download now.

Did U Know You Can Give Your Staff A Fun Pass?

Vacations. Staycations. Playcations. A trip to the movies. An afternoon at the zoo. Whatever the plan, you and your employees deserve a little downtime …

So, what makes R&R even more rewarding? Big savings! Your PPAI membership grants you access to the PPAI Fun Pass, your direct ticket to year-round savings on movie tickets, theme parks, zoos and more. Bonus? You can pass on the deep discounts to your staff … a fun little employee perk!

Add PPAI Fun Pass to your benefits package and let your staff reap the rewards. A happy crew equals a happier you (hello, increased productivity!).

For details, click Fun Pass.

Did U Know There’s A Distributor Tool Center?

Facts. Facts. And more facts. That’s what 3 out 4 end buyers say they want from their promotional consultants, according to recent industry research.

So, how do you deliver …

With video. In the age of YouTube and handy cams, video marketing is one of the best, most memorable ways to communicate a stat-heavy message, which is why PPAI just launched the Distributor Tool Center. A repository of powerful (and Free!) sales tools, this online hot spot houses comprehensive videos each backed by our independent, unbiased research:

• Upload ’em to your company web site and social media channels to share the power of promotional products
• Present ’em during a sales meeting to share compelling statistics
• Use ’em to educate employees and staff about industry trends and changes

All videos available on Distributor Tool Center contain the undisputable stats you need to pique interest, to peak sales. Click here to download your copies today.

Did U Know Fido’s Eligible For Insurance?

You insure your home, your car, yourself. And now, thanks to your membership in PPAI, you can insure your four-legged friends, as well ...

PPAI Insurance Solutions gives members access to the most competitive rates and discounts available from best-in-class insurance providers. Offering the only pet insurance licensed throughout the U.S., PPAI Insurance Solutions covers hundreds of medical and injury-related conditions for your dogs, cats, birds and other animals.

And, we know as much as you love your pets, business is top priority, which is why PPAI Insurance Solutions (including medical, auto, home, business and life coverage) is available to your employees, as well. Whether you opt for a small group plan for you and your staff, or individual/family coverage, making insurance services available for your team is a great way to recruit and retain top talent.

For complete details, click PPAI Insurance Solutions.

Did U Know We’ve Got News?

Informed. Educated. Aware. Success in business demands the continuous acquisition of knowledge. So, here’s the question, are you getting enough news …

Online and in hand, PPAI is committed to getting you the information you need. Through updates, newsletters, e-zines and magazines, there’s not a single week that goes by that isn’t covered by your Association news sources. And, for your quick reference, all info is archived online.

To see past issues, click below:

• Supplier and Distributor Update
• PPB Newslink
• PPB Magazine
• Promotional Consultant Digital (PC)
• Promotional Consultant Today (PCT)

Need to subscribe? For updates, e-mail TessaF@ppai.org; for PC/PCT, e-mail PamW@ppai.org; click PPB and Newslink to start receiving your pubs.

Did U Know The Penny Still Has Buying Power?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but what's your cost to purchase that pic…

With PPAI’s Business Partner iCLIPART, it’s less (waaay less) than you’d expect. As a PPAI member, you receive at least 25-percent off a one-year subscription to the royalty-free clipart site. As the site houses more than 7.8 million images, that's almost 2,000 images for every penny (not to mention access to fonts, sounds, video and more).

Add high-quality photos to your marketing materials, enhance internal communications with colorful clipart and increase the visitor experience on your site with video and web graphics—all for mere pocket change.

For details, click iCLIPART.

Did U Know There Are Customizable Sales Tools?

Promoting the power of promotional products to end buyers is equally as important as promoting your business, especially now when every advertising dollar spent by your client is backed by serious forethought and consideration. So, how do you effectively communicate the benefits of promotional products and your company without breaking your own budget …

Earlier this year, PPAI released two complete marketing campaigns with exclusive, bare bones pricing for members. Each collection—including presentation folder, tri-fold brochure, postcards and graphic e-mails—is print-ready and can be customized with your company logo and contact information by your printer or graphic artist.

Created by the award-winning designers and writers in the PPAI marketing department, these materials offer you a high-quality, cost-effective way to stay top-of-mind, visible, memorable—which is the best way to expand your reach, increase your sales.

To view samples click marketing tools. For questions and additional details, contact Gage Chariton, PPAI senior marketing manager, GageC@ppai.org, 972-258-3045.

Did U Know UPIC’s Gone Mobile?

You’re at a sales lunch and your client wants to know if there’s a supplier that carries glow-in-the-dark pens. What do you do …

Show that you’re in the know with UPIC Mobile. Offering everything you’ve come to rely on at UPIC.org, UPIC Mobile delivers quick, easily accessible search results on your cell. Search by keyword, UPIC, company or contact name, retrieve phone numbers, websites and e-mails and recognize who’s a fellow member by their “bold” status in your search results.

In meetings, during layovers, a snack-break at Starbuck’s … whenever you’ve got questions, UPIC Mobile’s got answers.

To use, type http://m.upic.org/ into your mobile browser. For questions, e-mail itemail@ppai.org. For more, click UPIC Mobile.

Did U Know There’s A Tool To Help Market Your MAS/CAS?

Here’s something to think about: Less than three percent of all promotional consultants have obtained their MAS/CAS — a fact which makes your level of experience, education and commitment to the industry an incredibly valuable commodity. So make your hard work, work for you …

PPAI’s “Three Small Letters. One Big Impact.” is a newly created marketing brochure designed to highlight the value and significance of your MAS/CAS certification for your clients. A tri-fold with a business-card feature, this piece can be used as a direct-mail promotional piece, a sales-call leave behind or a visual aid in presentations.

Quick. Compelling. Effective. This marketing tool conveys the benefits of doing business with you—the MAS/CAS expert.

Available in bundles of 20 for just $14 (shipping included). To order, contact the PPAI Professional Development department at 972-258-3025 or certification@ppai.org.

Did U Know There’s A Best Practices Cheat Sheet?

Our industry has a very specific supply chain—one that’s powered by the strong, mutually beneficial relationship between the two main players: Suppliers and Distributors. As the success of promotional products is contingent upon the success of these two entities, wouldn’t it be great if there was an informative guide that offered advice on the best ways for the two to work together …

Enter PPAI’s “Best Practices Within The Promotional Products Industry.” This invaluable, downloadable document offers a series of critical steps that suppliers and distributors can take within their own businesses to facilitate a “greater understanding of each other’s products, sales, marketing and operational dynamics.”

To make the best of your business relationships, download this quick “cheat sheet” for info on improving communications, order management, artwork/imprinting, finance, sales/marketing, technology and shipping. Implement on your end and share with others…what’s best for you, is best for them.

To download, click Best Practices.

Did U Know PPAI Can Expand Your Reach Each Month?

New business leads are big — as in crucial. So, what if we told ya’ there was a way to reach new contacts on a monthly basis …

For members only, PPAI posts the contact info of new distributor and supplier members who joined the Association during the previous month. Available as an Excel spreadsheet or a Word file, these contact lists are updated (for you! for free!) monthly.

Use the info to promote your business, garner potential sales, swap ideas, establish goodwill, welcome the newbies to the industry’s only not-for-profit trade association. Whatever you do, remember this: a new month means new leads, which means new opportunities! Click New Members for the current contact list. Want more? Click List Rentals.

Did U Know You Can Search For Members From Your Desktop?

Google ’em. Yahoo! ’em. Bing ’em if you have to. Search engines are key business tools, but there’s a super-simple, super-fast way to skip the online rigmarole of scanning the entire world wide web when you’re looking for industry-specific info …

The PPAI Desktop Navigator is a downloadable tool that parks itself on your desktop so you always have easy, instant access to the PPAI member directory. You can look through listings by zip/area codes, sales volume and keywords, print search results, send e-mails/artwork and bookmark your favorite searches, like women-run companies in Texas or coffee mug suppliers in California. And, even if you’re working wireless and the wi-fi signal is slim, the Desktop Navigator is still up and running, returning great results each and every time.

To download this time-saving tool, click Desktop.

Did U Know You Can Make A Date With PPAI Expo Exhibitors?

Thousands of people attend The PPAI Expo. But, that doesn’t mean you’ll get lost in the crowd when it comes to checking out your “Top 10” (or 20 or 200) exhibitors …


Expo PlanIt, a handy dandy online show-planning tool, lets you see who’s exhibiting at Expo AND gives you the chance to schedule some cozy one-on-one time during the show.

Click Expo PlanIt to make a date with destiny (or Sony, Starbuck’s … whomever tickles your financial fancy). No muss, no fuss, no wasted time.

Did U Know U Can Wake Up Washington In About 60 Seconds?

Promotional products could be banned if the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PPSA, formerly known as S. 301) is passed. It’s up to us to make our voices heard, to send Washington a wake-up call …

And with PPAI LAW, it only takes about 60 seconds. When you visit ppailaw.org you can find all of the background info on PPSA and send an opposition e-mail (or printed letter) to your state senators. The main message is already written, simply enter your contact info and hit send.

60 seconds to make a difference — it couldn’t be easier, it couldn’t be more important.

Did U Know We’ve Got List Rentals?

You want to promote your great product, your amazing service. And you want to make sure industry folks get your message. So, how do you do it? How do you reach your target audience without breaking the bank …

You rent! PPAI rents robust distribution lists (nearly 7,500 leads!) to members in good standing. For about 8 cents per contact you can zero in on your specific market, on your specific needs: suppliers or distributors, members-only or the greater UPIC roster, one-time use or quarterly subscription.

Turn “for rent” into “just sold.” Click Lists for additional details.

Did U Know We Can Help Ya’ Find $$$?

So, the buzz around town is that we’re starting to dig ourselves outta’ the recession. Woo-hoo! However, getting to that big, bright, shining light at the end of the tunnel is gonna’ be s-l-o-w going. Thankfully, uncovering cash to boost your biz is on a much faster track …

“How To Find Money For Your Next Promotion” is one of PPAI’s many on-demand webinars. Presented by Soundline President Joel Schaffer, MAS, this innovative workshop will show you how to find, identify and sell with $50 billion worth of promotions behind you through co-op funding. But, here’s the real deal sealer: Many workshop participants have gone on to make millions (!!!) in increased sales within a year of attending this seminar. Cha-ching!

It’s fast. It’s free (for members). And it’s at your fingertips. Click Find Money to uncover your own little treasure chest now.

Did U Know PPAI Made A “Flick” For You?

Videos . Are. Everywhere. And with good reason: They’re easy, effective ways to communicate a message — a fact that’s not gone unnoticed by, well, just about everyone. According to YouTube, more than 10 hours of video are uploaded to their site every 60 seconds…

While PPAI isn’t posting quite that often, the Association’s YouTube channel has a lot to offer in the way of promotion for you: end-buyer videos, testimonials, PPAI Publications info … all are ready and waiting for you to post to your site, hyperlink in an e-mail, plug into a blog. Check out this just-posted video the PPAI marketing team created as a fun little promo for an upcoming education session in LA:




Click PPAI videos to amp up your promotions now.