Does Experience Make A Difference?

Yesterday a new client came by the showroom to see a specific product sample they requested. Olivia made this connection at the Southwest Wake Festival a couple weeks ago. While at the expo, the prospective client asked about a specific item they wanted to purchase. Immediately Olivia knew the product and offered to send information to confirm the item. Information turned into offering a sample, which turned into an appointment. The prospect came in to see the sample, but left with numerous other ideas that were an excellent fit for her budget and staying connected to her niche market.

As the meeting wrapped up, she remarked- "you are the expert" . With that remark the relationship changed- collaboration provided an exchange of ideas and goals which offered the opportunity to gain trust as a partner. She told Olivia, "your expertise shows, you really know your stuff"- offering that she'd been introduced to someone else weeks before who sold promotional products. That connection just kept trying to show them products without listening to their needs and not matching their goals. For her, the other contact was selling promotional products, while we were a marketing partner.

Experience does come from longevity and practice but expertise comes from listening, learning and adapting. Promotional Products Advertising International, PPAI, offers a professional certification programs to the advertising specialty industry.  In 2012, our owner Olivia first earned her CAS- Certified Advertising Specialist certification. This designation has been the industry standard for 50+ years—a respected professional designation signifying professional knowledge and capability for marketing using promotional products. Certifications such as CAS are maintained through continuing education to ensure current knowledge and leading-edge professional skills.


At Promotional Partners, we see certification as an investment in you- the clients! 

We are known as a place where ideas get results, because we are able to connect with our client's marketing needs, suggesting not only products but ways to effectively use those products as part of their marketing goals. Being a professional partner requires constant training, development and professional involvement beyond a job title. We embrace those requirements at our company! Certification was a goal for Promotional Partners from day 1 because our leadership team is commitment to this industry. As we wind down our year long celebration of 10 years in the advertising specialty industry, we look forward to continuing to layer in additional services to our partners in the next 10 year's.   

We will continue to look forward to seeing what starts an an idea become a result!