A Message From Our PPAMidwest President......

PPAMidwest Members,

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Ok, well maybe it is a little too early for that, unless you visit your local retailer! But summer has now come to an end, the kids are all back in school and that means it is time for a show! The incredible board of PPAMidwest truly understands the importance of successful shows for our members and we absolutely love bringing you two amazing shows each year. It’s time for the Fall Showcase and we know you will be thrilled by this year’s fall shows, which will be packed with incredible exhibitors, education opportunities thanks to PPAI, and wonderful chances to reconnect and plan for the holiday season. It is my sincere hope that as we are heading into Fall, each of you are continuing to SPRING forward with great successes and new opportunities.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars:

• Our Fall Showcase dates are set for September 26^th in Overland Park, KS and September 28^th in St. Louis.
• Our annual holiday parties will be held on November 29^th at Pinstripes in Overland Park, KS and November 30^th at Trainwreck Saloon Westport in St. Louis. 

I remain humbled to serve as your President and am looking forward to seeing all of you in person soon. Please reach out directly to me with your comments, questions, or just to chat and don’t forget to share your stories. I can be reached via email at [email protected]. 

Yours in Service,

Dennis Oglesby, MAS

2023 PPAMidwest President

American Solutions for Business Hosts Annual Summit in Lake Tahoe, CA

Glenwood, MN – Vantage American Solutions for Business hosted their annual American Summit in Lake Tahoe, CA last week. Top ASB sales associates from around the country gathered for this yearly recognition of their achievements over the last year. The Summit event is complete with morning and afternoon supplier sessions across two days, and supplier-sponsored socials in the evening.

“What a beautiful location and collection of individuals to have at this year’s Summit,” expressed Larry Zavadil, ASB Founder & CEO. “I never get tired of seeing the hugs from people meeting for the first time, or reuniting for the 20^th time. I’m excited to see the new connections that blossom from the networking from last week.”

The annual charity effort that is included in the 3-day event featured “Keep Tahoe Blue”, a nonprofit whose mission is to protect and restore the environmental health, sustainability and scenic beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin. With a goal of $5,000, event attendees were able to begin donating weeks before the event, and were once again able to double their goal and raise $10,000.

“The dedication of our teams, sales associates, and supplier partners is evident in each Summit event that we host,” explained VP of Marketing, Vendor Relations & Events, Dana Zezzo. “To each person who had a hand in making this the highest-attended Summit in ASB history, we want to say, ‘Thank you!’”

Les Love Joins Arch Promo Group

St. Louis, MO – Arch Promo Group recently announced the appointment of Les Love, CAS as Midwestern Sales Manager. Love’s responsibilities include meeting and supporting regional distributors throughout the Midwest, introducing the Arch Family of Brands to all and attending industry events. “Meeting our distributor friends on their turf, doing everything possible to support their position as creative resources for their customers and helping them grow their business and profits is at the top of my list,” says Love.

Steven Meyer, Arch Promo Group's National Sales Manager, reports that Love’s new responsibilities are another example of change and growth with Arch. “His 17 years of experience as a distributor sets him apart from most supplier reps and his understanding of the distributor side of the business makes his voice valuable,” Meyer adds.

“As we continue to grow, adding new suppliers and focusing on US made/decorated product yet happily NOT mashing everyone into one way of doing business, we’re finding out that both our new brands as well as their long time loyal customers appreciate and feel great about joining or working with Arch,” Meyer states. 

Looking for Talent? Looking for a New Position?

Did You Know We Have a Job Board?

PPAMidwest Members may submit job openings or job search listings to be posted on the PPAMidwest website and in the PPAMidwest monthly newsletter. Please visit https://ppam.org/Job-Postings to view current listings or for the requirements to submit a listing.

The Best Ways To Successfully Begin Prospecting Calls

Mike Brooks • PPAI PromoPro Daily • Founder of Mr. Inside Sales Consulting and Training Firm

Research shows it can take eight attempts before reaching a prospect.

Just a few years ago, it took about four attempts. People are busy and aren’t willing to give their time to just anyone. That’s why it’s more important than ever to distinguish yourself from all the other sales reps out there.

Mike Brooks, the founder of Mr. Inside Sales, says you only have a few precious seconds to capture a prospect’s attention and make them want to continue the conversation, so it’s always best to make the most of your opportunity to establish a connection. Read More