Unofficially PPAI: Day 1 - Exclusive Interviews from the Floor✨

1️⃣Mary Furto, Senior VP of Marketing at PCNA

PCNA 2025 Trends to Kick Start Your Sales

PCNA's 2025 Trends Presentation highlights four key global trends: Optimistic Change (sustainability and transparency), Intelligent Simplicity (multi-functional, streamlined design), Glimmers (joyful, nostalgic products), and Carefully (wellness-focused innovations). Mary Furto and Liz Haesler showcased innovative products like digital photo frames, eco-friendly drinkware, versatile bags, and wellness tools. They also introduced a new golf line, an updated lookbook, and the Elevate apparel brand, emphasizing sustainability, functionality, and seamless customer experiences. PCNA’s commitment to customer-driven innovation and thoughtful design underpins its 2025 strategy.

2️⃣PPAI Expo Highlights Legislative Advocacy and Industry Resilience

The PPAI Expo’s Conference Day spotlighted the evolving legislative landscape impacting the $27 billion promotional products industry. Key discussions centered on addressing regulatory challenges such as tariffs, supply chain volatility, and economic instability. Industry resilience was identified as a strength, emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt to ongoing changes.

Insights were shared into proactive lobbying strategies, highlighting how advocacy and partnerships are crucial for future-proofing the industry. With initiatives like PPAI’s Legislative Education and Action Day, attendees were encouraged to engage with policymakers to safeguard industry interests.

3️⃣Tiffani Bova on Why a Laser Focus on Customer Experience is Paramount for Boosting Sales.

The event's keynote, delivered by Tiffani Bova, former chief growth evangelist at Salesforce, urged businesses to adopt a "beginner's mind" approach to innovation and problem-solving. Bova highlighted a key disconnect: while 75% of companies claim to be customer-centric, only 30% of consumers agree. She stressed the need for organizations to focus on aligning internal processes and offerings with real customer needs, emphasizing that exceptional client experience is crucial for sustainable growth.

Breakout sessions featured industry leaders sharing practical growth strategies. Topics ranged from managing time effectively and overcoming failures to differentiating products in a crowded marketplace. Attendees also explored how to leverage technology, innovation, and collaboration to remain competitive in a fast-evolving industry.

4️⃣Recruiting & Retaining A Killer Sales Team

Nicole Rhooms, HR director at PPAI, moderated a panel on “Future Ready Sales: Recruiting and Retaining a Killer Sales Team.” The panel discussion unpacked the secrets to recruiting top sales talent, building a high-performing team and retaining the best in the business.

Key strategies included fostering a strong employee value proposition, leveraging referral programs, and creating a culture of transparency and collaboration across sales teams. Panelists emphasized hiring slow, firing fast, balancing inside and outside sales roles, and effectively managing multi-line key accounts. To prevent burnout, companies highlighted strategies such as Summer Fridays, sabbaticals, and maintaining clear work-life boundaries. The session also covered inclusive hiring practices, emphasizing diverse recruitment channels and team interviews. The discussion wrapped up with insights on commission-only structures, providing value to sales reps, and leveraging internal support systems to drive sales success.

5️⃣Jenna Quaranta, Director of Sales Training & Development at HPG

New Year, New Wins

The workshop delivered actionable tools to boost sales confidence and identify missed opportunities. Survivor-turned-sales-coach shared how resilience shaped their sales strategy, offering a workbook packed with exercises, a LinkedIn playbook, and a tactical 30-day challenge.

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