Jim Socci, president of Artistic Toy (left), and Mike Wagaman of Rockland Embroidery, Inc. and vice president of Philadelphia Area Promotional Products Association (PAPPA), at a PPW!W kick-off factory tour at Artistic Toy in early April.
It’s the second annual Promotional Products Work! Week (PPW!W) and the industry is turning out to demonstrate the effectiveness of promotional products. Running through Friday, PPW!W celebrates the crucial role promotional products and skilled industry professionals play in all aspects of advertising, marketing and business.
A week-long, annual event, PPW!W brings together the entire industry—large and small companies, regional associations, distributors and suppliers, business services providers and multi-line representatives—in support of demonstrating the power, value and effectiveness of promotional products.
Promotional Products Work! Week’s goals are:
Ensure that the promotional products industry remains vibrant and dynamic
Empower promotional products professionals to educate current and prospective clients about the power of promotional products
Work with regional associations to energize and localize campaign penetration into all markets
Recognize businesses that creatively use promotional products in successful marketing communications campaigns
Reach national and local legislators to share the strength of the industry and its impact on the U.S. and global economies
Inform colleges and universities
Unite the industry, boost morale and motivation
Raise awareness, educate, inform and recognize
Increase the use of promotional products
Promotional Products Work! Week focuses on five cornerstones for getting out the message that promotional products and skilled industry professionals play important roles in all aspects of advertising and marketing. In the first cornerstone, members are encouraged to host an open house or company tour, while in the second “Speak For The Industry,” takes the message to colleges, clubs, business groups and other organizations. The third is a day of service in support of a charity or other organization, while in the fourth, participants share the industry’s impact on the economy with local legislators, politicians and government officials. The final cornerstone is an opportunity to say “thank you” to customers and clients.
A number of companies and industry organizations participating in PPW!W have shared what they are doing for the event.
Motivators, Inc. (UPIC: MOTIV8RS), a distributor in Westbury, New York, has put together digital campaign to educate its clients on the industry. Online advertising, social media and an e-mail blast to more than 20,000 recipients have led end buyers to information on the industry, and spurred thousands of visits a day to the company’s website. And when speaking to clients, the company’s sales staff are offering a free webinar on the ‘what, when, where and why’ of promotional products.
The Houston Promotional Products Association (HPPA) is holding a donation drive to support a number of good causes as part of PPW!W. Donations from HPPA members will go to benefit the Richmond State School for special needs students and to Career Gear and Dress For Success, organizations that provide professional clothing, mentoring and life skills to help men and women living in poverty get ahead.
The Northwest Promotional Marketing Association (NWPMA) and Seattle, Washington-based supplier iClick (UPIC: IClic342) have partnered to host an event at iClick’s facility in support of PPW!W. It will focus on the importance of the promotional products industry and help build awareness of promotional products as a powerful and effective medium for businesses.
The Arizona Promotional Products Association (AzPPA) is joining Fairytale Brownies (UPIC: Brownies) on a tour of its factory in Phoenix. The tour is scheduled for May 2.
Hasseman Marketing & Communications, a distributor in Coshocton, Ohio, is hosting an open house at its offices on April 24.
Staples Promotional Products (UPIC: AMER0016) shared the PPW!W message on its Your Brand Partner blog, pointing readers to research results and other findings from PPAI on the effectiveness of promotional products.
See what industry companies have done and share photos and stories from PPW!W on PPAI’s Facebook page and tweet about it using the hashtag #PPWWeek.