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When the Peripheral Opponent is You

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Bobby Lehew

(Cross-posted from bobbylehew.com, with apologies to Steven Pressfield). As an avid book collector, I’ve amassed more than my share of unread books. It’s a possessive obsession, an incurable malady. Of the piles and piles of books I’ve purchased through the years, none seem to retain their unread status longer than the books that fall into the two categories of ‘self-help’…

Breaking Down Invisible Tradeshow Barriers

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Roger Burnett

“What kind of businesses do you most frequently call on?” By my estimation, a combined 30 tradeshows will have occurred in the tradeshow-laden first quarter of 2013. The combined time and financial investment made by our industry participants during this time period is nothing short of staggering, and the economic impact to the surrounding businesses that our industry generates is awe-inspiring. If…

A Special Brand Of Fearlessness

Posted on March 4, 2013 by PromoKitchen Contributing Editor

First I want to say that being a leader requires the ability to get people to follow you. Sounds elementary and obvious, but to really create a following you must poses certain skills and charisma that make people feel they are following something that will either benefit them or a cause they believe in. For the purpose of this article,…

The Distributor-Supplier Relationship: One Distributor’s Perspective.

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Danny Rosin

With 20 years in the industry, I have seen a lot. I’ve been on the other end of the phone trying to get information from a supplier about a $10,000 opportunity, where the supplier said they would call me back within the hour with the basic stock and pricing information I requested – and I never received a call back….

It’s A PromoKitchen Party – Texas Style!

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Promo Kitchen

It’s a PromoKitchen Party – Texas Style! Hop in a cab with a few of your friends and mosey on over to the Hard Rock Cafe on February 6th. We’ll be there from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. This is your chance to catch up with old friends, meet some new people and chat about ways we can shake up…

How To Lead Today

Posted on January 29, 2013 by PromoKitchen Contributing Editor

Paul Kiewiet, MAS, is a speaker, coach, writer and the executive director of MiPPA. Leadership is not about being liked. It’s about doing what’s right. This means being visionary and looking beyond your corners of the promotional products world. It means that as a distributor, you must strengthen the supplier channel and vice versa. You must ruffle feathers, or you’re…

The Connection Continuum: Sell Me Something Vs. Change My World

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Roger Burnett

A potential new client is a wonderous thing. It’s exciting to share your greatness with an unknowing soul, to dazzle said prospect with the totality of your awesomeness. Some of us have been known to sleep poorly the night before a new client meeting out of sheer excitement over making a new connection. But those meetings don’t always bear fruit….

Pork Chops And Promos: Debating Supplier ‘Referral Fees’

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Promo Kitchen

Robert Fiveash is co-president of Brand Fuel. As distributor and supplier principals and leaders, we are always on the lookout for successful salespeople. In many cases, either by necessity or strategy, we pluck fresh-faced newbies from outside the promotional products space and spend time and treasure training them to become professionals in the industry. It’s a bit unsettling when they…

Tips for Tradeshow Attendees

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Brad White

So you are ready to start the New Year and you’re preparing to go to the big tradeshow. You will be looking for new products, forming new relationships, and reconnecting with colleagues and friends. With travel and events, the show will keep you constantly on the move for a week straight. Then quickly upon your return home, you will be…

PromoKitchen Party / Las Vegas Style!

Posted on January 9, 2013 by PromoKitchen Contributing Editor

PromoKitchen is once again hosting its flagship party at the PPAI Expo.Come one, come all! This will be a chance to catch up with old friends, meet some new people and chat about ways we can shake up the industry in 2013. Spread the word! Where: https://www.facebook.com/HOBLasVegas House of Blues Las Vegas 3950 Las Vegas Blvd South (inside Mandalay Bay),…