MiPPA-University

The Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA) presented Promotional Products 101, a six-hour boot camp for new promotional products professionals, on February 16 in Livonia, Michigan. The session is part of the MiPPA University high level courses offered throughout the year by the regional association.

The course, which drew 32 people new to the industry, included a Skype interactive phone call with PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE; a lunch and learn with five supplier members and a case study to learn how to collaborate with suppliers for idea generation. The course also included the history and culture of the industry, a description of industry terms, descriptions of other important industry stakeholders and an explanation of how the channel of distribution works.

Promotional Products 101 was presented by MiPPA’s executive director and PPAI Hall of Fame inductee, Paul Kiewiet, MAS+, who shared his more than 30 years of industry experience with the class.

Phil Rood, president of distributor LogoSpot (UPIC: logospot), sent three of his new employees to the event and was impressed with how quickly they applied what they learned. “My group learned some valuable info at the education yesterday. They were putting it to use today,” he says.

Other MiPPA University workshops include Profitable Distributor Operations, Sales and Marketing Principals for Next Level Success, Product Safety Conference and Premium Incentive Conference.

“MiPPA is constantly looking for ways to deliver more value for our members,” says MiPPA President John Bates. “We ask our members what topics they want and then create the programs to fill those needs.”