PPAI Media

What is the most pressing issue for your company in Q1?

Growing sales
23 votes (35%)
Improving customer satisfaction
6 votes (9%)
On-time order delivery
15 votes (23%)
Enhancing technology/sales/backend systems
4 votes (6%)
Hiring/retention
8 votes (12%)
Keeping the doors open
1 votes (2%)
Something else
8 votes (12%)
Poll posted on 1/11/2022 - Total responses: 65

For about how many years have you attended The PPAI Expo?

More than 20 years
59 votes (45%)
10-20 years
35 votes (27%)
5-9 years
16 votes (12%)
1-4 years
12 votes (9%)
The 2022 show will be my first
2 votes (2%)
I haven’t attended The PPAI Expo
6 votes (5%)
Poll posted on 12/28/2021 - Total responses: 130

Do you expect to reach your personal or company sales goals for 2021?

Yes
27 votes (71%)
No
10 votes (26%)
Not sure yet
1 votes (3%)
Poll posted on 12/14/2021 - Total responses: 38

Are you seeing any improvement in product inventory and availability?

Yes, somewhat
19 votes (42%)
Yes, to a great extent
2 votes (4%)
No, not yet
24 votes (53%)
Poll posted on 11/30/2021 - Total responses: 45

How valuable is The PPAI Expo toward your personal and/or business success in 2022?

Extremely valuable
16 votes (44%)
Moderately valuable
13 votes (36%)
Slightly valuable
5 votes (14%)
Not valuable at all
2 votes (6%)
Poll posted on 11/16/2021 - Total responses: 36

How many days will you spend at The PPAI Expo, January 10-13, in Las Vegas?

All four days
44 votes (58%)
Exhibit days only
10 votes (13%)
Two of the three exhibit days only
17 votes (22%)
One of the three exhibit days only
2 votes (3%)
One day for the PPAI Expo Conference and one exhibit day only
3 votes (4%)
One day for the PPAI Expo Conference only
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 11/2/2021 - Total responses: 76

What is the No. 1 reason you want to attend The PPAI Expo 2022?

New products, exhibit booths and the trade-show floor
24 votes (60%)
Networking and after-hours social events with colleagues
7 votes (18%)
Education sessions and learning from knowledgeable speakers
1 votes (2%)
The industry’s homecoming in-person at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center
8 votes (20%)
Poll posted on 10/19/2021 - Total responses: 40

Do you feel you manage your daily schedule most of the time or does it manage you?

I manage my schedule pretty well most days
7 votes (37%)
Some days I can stay on schedule, others are off the rails
9 votes (47%)
My daily schedule usually goes out the window
3 votes (16%)
Poll posted on 10/5/2021 - Total responses: 19

If you have to deliver bad news to a customer about an order, how do you usually do it?

Send an email
4 votes (12%)
Call the customer
28 votes (82%)
Make a personal visit if the customer is local
1 votes (3%)
None of these
1 votes (3%)
Poll posted on 9/21/2021 - Total responses: 34

Have you had to scale back your company’s offerings because of a shortage of labor?

Yes, somewhat
11 votes (42%)
Yes, to a great extent
2 votes (8%)
No, but that could happen this year
1 votes (4%)
No, and we don’t expect to
12 votes (46%)
Poll posted on 9/7/2021 - Total responses: 26

What is your biggest pet peeve about receiving emails?

Emails without a relevant subject line
5 votes (9%)
Emails without the sender’s company name or contact information
12 votes (23%)
Emails that are overly wordy and don’t get to the point
23 votes (43%)
None of these
13 votes (25%)
Poll posted on 8/31/2021 - Total responses: 53

Is your company requiring employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination?

Yes
15 votes (18%)
No
59 votes (71%)
I don’t know
9 votes (11%)
Poll posted on 8/24/2021 - Total responses: 83

What’s your opinion of working on the weekends?

I do it only when absolutely necessary
27 votes (44%)
I do it if I need to catch up and have nothing else to do
19 votes (31%)
I don’t mind working on the weekends
10 votes (16%)
I refuse to work on the weekends
6 votes (10%)
Poll posted on 8/17/2021 - Total responses: 62

Suppliers: Are you planning to print a product catalog for 2022?

Yes
10 votes (32%)
No
16 votes (52%)
Not sure yet
5 votes (16%)
Poll posted on 8/10/2021 - Total responses: 31

Has your volume of customer inquiries increased or decreased this summer compared to six months ago?

Increased a lot
8 votes (30%)
Increased somewhat
12 votes (44%)
Stayed about the same
6 votes (22%)
Decreased somewhat
1 votes (4%)
Decreased a lot
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 8/3/2021 - Total responses: 27

Distributors: What type of client inquiries are you getting the most of lately?

Ideas/products for upcoming events
5 votes (28%)
Ideas/products for employee programs
5 votes (28%)
Ideas/products for new product/program launches
2 votes (11%)
Ideas/products for direct mail
0 votes (0%)
Ideas/products for general branding/promotion
5 votes (28%)
Something else
1 votes (6%)
Poll posted on 7/27/2021 - Total responses: 18

How often do you check your business email during a typical workday?

Almost every time a new email is delivered
24 votes (50%)
About every 30 minutes
16 votes (33%)
About once an hour
1 votes (2%)
About every two or three hours
4 votes (8%)
About twice a day
2 votes (4%)
Once a day
1 votes (2%)
Less than once a day
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 7/20/2021 - Total responses: 48

Which of these do you think would most help ease the industry’s supply chain issues?

More flexibility/creativity from distributors
2 votes (5%)
More transparency/communication from suppliers
9 votes (20%)
More choices and alternatives for products/sources
3 votes (7%)
All of these
26 votes (59%)
None of these
4 votes (9%)
Poll posted on 7/13/2021 - Total responses: 44

If you could start over in your career, what would you do differently?

Get advice from a mentor
4 votes (12%)
Earn a degree or attain more education
0 votes (0%)
Get involved in my industry earlier
12 votes (36%)
Work for a different company
3 votes (9%)
Work in a different role
1 votes (3%)
I wouldn’t do anything differently
8 votes (24%)
None of these
5 votes (15%)
Poll posted on 7/6/2021 - Total responses: 33

How challenging are supply chain issues for your company right now?

Very challenging; we are struggling to fill orders
25 votes (64%)
Somewhat challenging; we’re able to fill orders without too much delay
13 votes (33%)
Not at all challenging; we’ve found workable sources to help us fill orders
1 votes (3%)
Poll posted on 6/29/2021 - Total responses: 39

If your company is currently hiring new employees, which best describes your experience?

It’s difficult to find people with the right skills
7 votes (30%)
It’s difficult to find candidates interested in our jobs
9 votes (39%)
We are challenged to find enough people to fill our needs
6 votes (26%)
It’s a good time to hire; we are having success finding good candidates
1 votes (4%)
Poll posted on 6/22/2021 - Total responses: 23

Is your company involved in supporting or volunteering for any charitable organizations?

Yes, to a great extent
36 votes (72%)
Yes, but not frequently
10 votes (20%)
No, but that’s on our radar
2 votes (4%)
No, no plans at this time
2 votes (4%)
Poll posted on 6/15/2021 - Total responses: 50

Which type of self-promotion has been most successful for you?

An email campaign
6 votes (26%)
A direct mail campaign
1 votes (4%)
Promo products mailed to clients
5 votes (22%)
A self-promo event
0 votes (0%)
A combination of two or more of these
11 votes (48%)
Poll posted on 6/8/2021 - Total responses: 23

Which podcast topic would you be most interested in listening to?

Sales tips
0 votes (0%)
Business ownership discussion
4 votes (18%)
Marketing tips and trends
8 votes (36%)
Customer service how-tos
0 votes (0%)
Product trends
10 votes (45%)
Something else
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 6/1/2021 - Total responses: 22

How often do you reach out to clients or potential clients just to check in and stay in touch?

At least weekly
3 votes (9%)
At least twice a month
7 votes (20%)
At least monthly
13 votes (37%)
At least quarterly
12 votes (34%)
None of these
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 5/25/2021 - Total responses: 35

Do you plan to return to work in an office this year?

Yes, every day
23 votes (51%)
Yes, a few days a week and the remainder at home
9 votes (20%)
No, I will remain working at home
13 votes (29%)
Unsure
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 5/18/2021 - Total responses: 45

If your company will be hiring this year, how important is the geographical location of qualified candidates?

Not important; employees can work remote from anywhere
6 votes (33%)
Very important; employees must be local and work onsite
5 votes (28%)
It depends on the position
7 votes (39%)
Poll posted on 5/11/2021 - Total responses: 18

Distributors: By about how much did your company’s sales increase in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020?

Increased up to 25%
3 votes (17%)
Increased up to 50%
4 votes (22%)
Increased up to 75%
0 votes (0%)
Increased up to 100%
0 votes (0%)
Sales were flat in this period
1 votes (6%)
Sales declined in this period
10 votes (56%)
Poll posted on 5/4/2021 - Total responses: 18

Have you gotten or do you plan to get the COVID vaccination?

Yes
101 votes (78%)
No
26 votes (20%)
Unsure
3 votes (2%)
Poll posted on 4/27/2021 - Total responses: 130

Do you anticipate changing jobs/employers in 2021?

Yes, definitely
4 votes (24%)
Maybe
7 votes (41%)
Definitely not
6 votes (35%)
Poll posted on 4/20/2021 - Total responses: 17

How do you really feel about using Zoom for meetings?

Love it, it’s productive
14 votes (30%)
Hate it, Zoom meetings exhaust me
10 votes (22%)
I tolerate Zoom meetings for now but prefer to meet in person
22 votes (48%)
Poll posted on 4/6/2021 - Total responses: 46

Which COVID-related U.S. government programs has your company applied for or used?

Paycheck Protection Program
5 votes (50%)
Employee Retention Credit
0 votes (0%)
Both of these
2 votes (20%)
None of these
3 votes (30%)
Poll posted on 3/30/2021 - Total responses: 10

Does your company have a showroom where potential customers can browse for products and ideas?

Yes
45 votes (65%)
No
20 votes (29%)
No, but it’s in the works for this year
2 votes (3%)
Not yet, but I’m thinking about it
2 votes (3%)
Poll posted on 3/23/2021 - Total responses: 69

Distributors, how important are brand-name items when selling apparel?

Very important
3 votes (11%)
Somewhat important but usually not a deal breaker
8 votes (30%)
It depends on the type of apparel or client
15 votes (56%)
Not important
1 votes (4%)
Not sure
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 3/16/2021 - Total responses: 27

Suppliers, what have you done so far in Q1 to boost sales?

Introduced a new product category
2 votes (12%)
Expanded sales team
1 votes (6%)
Launched a new marketing campaign
6 votes (35%)
Two or more of these
2 votes (12%)
All of these
3 votes (18%)
None of these
3 votes (18%)
Poll posted on 3/11/2021 - Total responses: 17

Distributors, what category of products are you selling the most of so far this year?

Apparel
5 votes (29%)
Writing Instruments
2 votes (12%)
Drinkware
2 votes (12%)
Bags
0 votes (0%)
Technology
4 votes (24%)
Something else
4 votes (24%)
Poll posted on 3/9/2021 - Total responses: 17

What do you think is the most challenging issue affecting supplier/distributor relationships?

Poor communication
7 votes (23%)
Lack of reliability
0 votes (0%)
Service problems
1 votes (3%)
Inventory shortages
8 votes (27%)
Production delays
1 votes (3%)
All of these
7 votes (23%)
Something else
4 votes (13%)
None, the relationship is fine
2 votes (7%)
Poll posted on 3/4/2021 - Total responses: 30

Would you be willing to give your employees an incentive to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes, a monetary incentive
4 votes (12%)
Yes, a paid time-off incentive
12 votes (36%)
No
10 votes (30%)
Not sure
7 votes (21%)
Poll posted on 3/2/2021 - Total responses: 33

If you are providing useful content to your current and potential customers, which methods are you using?

E-newsletter
5 votes (25%)
Website
2 votes (10%)
Podcast
0 votes (0%)
Video
1 votes (5%)
Two or more of these
9 votes (45%)
Other
3 votes (15%)
Poll posted on 2/23/2021 - Total responses: 20

If you are now selling PPE, do you anticipate making it a permanent part of the products you sell, even if face masks are no longer required at some point?

Yes
7 votes (58%)
No
3 votes (25%)
Not sure
2 votes (17%)
Poll posted on 2/16/2021 - Total responses: 12

Distributors, which market are you expecting to be your top performer in Q1?

Health care
5 votes (31%)
Education
3 votes (19%)
Nonprofit
1 votes (6%)
Real Estate
1 votes (6%)
Construction
2 votes (12%)
None of these
4 votes (25%)
Poll posted on 2/11/2021 - Total responses: 16

Under the Biden-Harris administration, how optimistic are you about your business’s future?

More optimistic than in the past four years
14 votes (21%)
Less optimistic than in the past four years
49 votes (72%)
About the same
5 votes (7%)
Poll posted on 2/9/2021 - Total responses: 68

Distributors, what is your main source of new clients?

Cold calls
4 votes (8%)
Client referrals
26 votes (52%)
Email/website inquiries
7 votes (14%)
Networking/business organizations
6 votes (12%)
Other
7 votes (14%)
Poll posted on 2/4/2021 - Total responses: 50

Distributors, which sales tool is most valuable?

Random samples
4 votes (16%)
Virtual samples
9 votes (36%)
Catalogs
2 votes (8%)
Supplier website
4 votes (16%)
Other
6 votes (24%)
Poll posted on 2/2/2021 - Total responses: 25

How long has it been since your company did a major redesign on its website (more than just updating products)?

In the past month or two
5 votes (16%)
Last year
7 votes (22%)
About two years ago
12 votes (38%)
Too long to remember
8 votes (25%)
Poll posted on 1/28/2021 - Total responses: 32

Will your company make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for employees?

Yes
10 votes (26%)
No
16 votes (42%)
Not sure yet
12 votes (32%)
Poll posted on 1/26/2021 - Total responses: 38

What are you looking forward to most in 2021?

Calling on customers in person
4 votes (11%)
A fresh year of sales goals and opportunities
11 votes (31%)
Getting the team back in the office
3 votes (8%)
In-person trade shows and networking events
16 votes (44%)
None of these
2 votes (6%)
Poll posted on 1/21/2021 - Total responses: 36

When do you expect to be able to make in-person sales calls?

This month
7 votes (16%)
By April 2021
7 votes (16%)
By June 2021
14 votes (33%)
By September 2021
11 votes (26%)
By December 2021
4 votes (9%)
Poll posted on 1/14/2021 - Total responses: 43

If you are a distributor participating in Expo Direct-2-You, what is your primary reason for attending?

To see new products
14 votes (27%)
To visit with suppliers
1 votes (2%)
To find fresh ideas for my clients
6 votes (12%)
All of these
27 votes (53%)
Something else
3 votes (6%)
Poll posted on 1/12/2021 - Total responses: 51

If you are a supplier exhibiting at Expo Direct-2-You, what drew you to participate?

Showcase new products
0 votes (0%)
Have conversations with distributors
2 votes (25%)
Get visibility for my company
0 votes (0%)
All of these
6 votes (75%)
Something else
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 1/7/2021 - Total responses: 8

How would you rate your personal optimism for business in the year ahead?

Better now than six months ago
9 votes (41%)
Worse now than six months ago
5 votes (23%)
About the same as in 2020
8 votes (36%)
Poll posted on 1/5/2021 - Total responses: 22

What will you remember as the best part of 2020?

Working from home
1 votes (3%)
Spending more time with family
5 votes (17%)
Lack of required business travel
4 votes (14%)
Learning or mastering new technologies
4 votes (14%)
Something else
5 votes (17%)
None of these
10 votes (34%)
Poll posted on 12/31/2020 - Total responses: 29

What is the most troubling business issue you are dealing with at this point?

Product shipments
2 votes (10%)
Keeping the sales pipeline full
10 votes (50%)
Meeting revenue goals for 2020
2 votes (10%)
Forecasting/planning for 2021
4 votes (20%)
Employee and staffing issues
1 votes (5%)
Something else
1 votes (5%)
None of these
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 12/29/2020 - Total responses: 20

How often do you plan for orders to arrive late?

Always
3 votes (33%)
Very Often
0 votes (0%)
Sometimes
1 votes (11%)
Rarely
1 votes (11%)
Never
4 votes (44%)
Poll posted on 12/22/2020 - Total responses: 9

In first quarter of 2021, how likely is it that you will attend a virtual industry event?

Definitely
7 votes (37%)
Most Likely
3 votes (16%)
Probably
3 votes (16%)
Probably Not
4 votes (21%)
Definitely Not
2 votes (11%)
Poll posted on 12/17/2020 - Total responses: 19

What social media platform do you find most effective for staying connected with industry colleagues?

PromoConnect
3 votes (13%)
LinkedIn
3 votes (13%)
Facebook
10 votes (43%)
Twitter
0 votes (0%)
Instagram
3 votes (13%)
None of these
4 votes (17%)
Poll posted on 12/15/2020 - Total responses: 23

What are your business expectations for 2021?

Excited for what’s to come
2 votes (12%)
Feeling positive
8 votes (50%)
Unsure
2 votes (12%)
Worried but hopeful
4 votes (25%)
It’s going to be a tough year
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 12/10/2020 - Total responses: 16

How valuable have virtual events and trade shows been to your business this year?

Very valuable
2 votes (11%)
Valuable
2 votes (11%)
Somewhat valuable
4 votes (22%)
Slightly valuable
4 votes (22%)
Not valuable at all
6 votes (33%)
Poll posted on 12/8/2020 - Total responses: 18

What is the biggest cybersecurity threat to your business?

Phishing
11 votes (52%)
Ransomware
3 votes (14%)
DDoS Attacks
0 votes (0%)
Lack of active cyber security monitoring
0 votes (0%)
Lack of training
3 votes (14%)
All of the above
4 votes (19%)
None of the above
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 12/3/2020 - Total responses: 21

How often do you post or browse on social media for business?

Almost hourly
0 votes (0%)
More than once a day
2 votes (11%)
Once a day
4 votes (22%)
Several times a week
5 votes (28%)
About once a week
4 votes (22%)
Less than once a week
3 votes (17%)
Never
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 11/24/2020 - Total responses: 18

Are you working more hours now than before the lockdown or fewer hours?

Substantially more hours
8 votes (26%)
Slightly more hours
3 votes (10%)
About the same number of hours
11 votes (35%)
Substantially fewer hours
3 votes (10%)
Slightly fewer hours
5 votes (16%)
None of these
1 votes (3%)
Poll posted on 11/19/2020 - Total responses: 31

Has your company replaced an in-person event with a virtual event this year?

Yes, an employee event
0 votes (0%)
Yes, a client event
2 votes (9%)
Yes, an industry-related event
2 votes (9%)
Yes, some or all of these
6 votes (26%)
No
13 votes (57%)
Poll posted on 11/17/2020 - Total responses: 23

Which type of holiday gift would you prefer to receive this year from a client or vendor?

A useful item for my workspace
2 votes (14%)
A food gift
4 votes (29%)
An apparel item
2 votes (14%)
A personal item
0 votes (0%)
A product for my home
4 votes (29%)
A product for on-the-go or travel
2 votes (14%)
None of these
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 11/12/2020 - Total responses: 14

How are you budgeting revenue for 2021?

Flat compared to 2020
0 votes (0%)
Slightly down compared to 2020
0 votes (0%)
Strongly down compared to 2020
1 votes (10%)
Slightly up compared to 2020
6 votes (60%)
Strongly up compared to 2020
2 votes (20%)
Don’t know yet
1 votes (10%)
Poll posted on 11/10/2020 - Total responses: 10

How are you planning to recognize or reward your employees at year-end?

A holiday event in person or virtual
1 votes (8%)
A year-end bonus
2 votes (17%)
A physical gift
4 votes (33%)
An event plus a bonus
1 votes (8%)
An event plus a physical gift
1 votes (8%)
An event plus bonus and gift
0 votes (0%)
A bonus and gift only, no event
2 votes (17%)
Something other than these options
0 votes (0%)
Unable to provide any reward to employees this year
1 votes (8%)
Poll posted on 11/5/2020 - Total responses: 12

In what ways has your company changed its service offerings since the pandemic began?

Altered current service offerings
0 votes (0%)
Added new services
5 votes (45%)
Reduced number or level of services
1 votes (9%)
All of these
2 votes (18%)
None of these
3 votes (27%)
Poll posted on 11/3/2020 - Total responses: 11

What method do you use most often to lessen stress and anxiety?

Taking deep breaths
2 votes (9%)
Going for a walk
10 votes (43%)
Meditating
1 votes (4%)
Listening to calming music
3 votes (13%)
Exercising
5 votes (22%)
None of these
2 votes (9%)
Poll posted on 10/29/2020 - Total responses: 23

Suppliers, are you planning to produce a product catalog for 2021?

Yes, in print
6 votes (40%)
Yes, but not in print—digital or electronic only
5 votes (33%)
No, I will produce new product flyers or something else instead
4 votes (27%)
No, I will not be producing any type of catalog or flyer
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 10/27/2020 - Total responses: 15

Distributors, what is your preference for supplier catalogs?

I prefer print catalogs
13 votes (42%)
I prefer digital catalogs
8 votes (26%)
I prefer print catalogs but only if I request them
8 votes (26%)
I prefer digital catalogs but only if I request them
0 votes (0%)
None of these
2 votes (6%)
Poll posted on 10/22/2020 - Total responses: 31

Distributors, in client conversations, what is the most frequent reoccurring topic?

Lack of budget to make a purchase
4 votes (13%)
Overall slow business
12 votes (40%)
Where and how a product is manufactured
0 votes (0%)
Pricing
6 votes (20%)
Credit terms
0 votes (0%)
Turnaround/shipping
4 votes (13%)
None of these
4 votes (13%)
Poll posted on 10/20/2020 - Total responses: 30

If you are still working from home, how are you handling mail (catalogs, magazines, checks, invoices, etc.) arriving at your office?

My mail is being handled by someone else at my office
2 votes (18%)
My mail is being forwarded to my home
0 votes (0%)
I am going to my office to check mail on a regular basis
3 votes (27%)
My mail is not being checked regularly
1 votes (9%)
A and C
0 votes (0%)
A, B and C
0 votes (0%)
None of these
5 votes (45%)
Poll posted on 10/15/2020 - Total responses: 11

Have you attended or exhibited at an industry virtual trade show?

Yes, I’ve attended one or more virtual trade shows this year
19 votes (79%)
No, but I plan to attend one or more this year
0 votes (0%)
No, but I plan to attend one or more next year
1 votes (4%)
Yes, I’ve exhibited at one or more this year
3 votes (12%)
No, but I plan to exhibit at one or more this year
0 votes (0%)
No, but I plan to exhibit at one or more next year
0 votes (0%)
No, I have not attended or exhibited at a virtual trade show and do not plan to
1 votes (4%)
Poll posted on 10/13/2020 - Total responses: 24

Which of these attributes has been most important in helping your company survive this year?

Diversity of clients/markets
5 votes (11%)
The team’s sales and service skills
5 votes (11%)
Quality products
3 votes (7%)
Competitive pricing
1 votes (2%)
Creativity and innovation
10 votes (23%)
Customer relationships
19 votes (43%)
None of these
1 votes (2%)
Poll posted on 10/8/2020 - Total responses: 44

What is your preferred method of reading business-related, long-form articles about people, products, markets, trends and other non-time-sensitive topics?

Print
13 votes (39%)
Digital publication such as a flipbook
4 votes (12%)
Articles published on the web
16 votes (48%)
None of these
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 10/6/2020 - Total responses: 33

How are you handling business development during the pandemic?

I am using video conferencing to connect with prospects
1 votes (5%)
I am sending out spec and random samples to engage prospects
3 votes (14%)
I am using traditional methods like email and phone calls
9 votes (43%)
I am not doing any business development during this time
3 votes (14%)
I'm doing A, B and C
5 votes (24%)
None of these
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 10/1/2020 - Total responses: 21

How are you incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) into your business?

I am looking for suppliers who are diverse
0 votes (0%)
I created a committee within my company to create a DE&I plan
2 votes (11%)
I am educating myself through reading and podcasts
3 votes (17%)
I am not interested in incorporating DE&I into my business
3 votes (17%)
I'm doing A, B and C
2 votes (11%)
None of these
8 votes (44%)
Poll posted on 9/29/2020 - Total responses: 18

Distributors: How are you dealing with virtual events and work from home kits?

Providing kitting and fulfillment in house
2 votes (15%)
Using suppliers to do drop shipments
3 votes (23%)
Hiring a third-party logistics partner to do kitting and fulfillment
0 votes (0%)
I am not doing virtual events or home kits
5 votes (38%)
All of these
1 votes (8%)
None of these
2 votes (15%)
Poll posted on 9/24/2020 - Total responses: 13

If you were leading a mid-sized distributor company right now, what immediate action would you take to scale the business?

Hire professional coach
1 votes (4%)
Tighten up processes
12 votes (50%)
Hire additional resources
0 votes (0%)
Invest in technology for order processing, CRM and research
9 votes (38%)
None of these
2 votes (8%)
Poll posted on 9/22/2020 - Total responses: 24

What actions have you taken to assist your employees in reducing anxiety and depression?

Provided counseling services
0 votes (0%)
Offered extra days off
0 votes (0%)
Checked in with them personally
12 votes (50%)
Asked company managers to check in with them frequently
2 votes (8%)
All of these
5 votes (21%)
None of these
5 votes (21%)
Poll posted on 9/17/2020 - Total responses: 24

Do you think your business might grow through acquisition this year or be acquired?

I anticipate acquiring another company this year.
7 votes (23%)
I anticipate that my company will be acquired this year.
4 votes (13%)
I'm interested in acquiring a company but think it will probably happen next year.
5 votes (16%)
I'm interested my company being acquired but don’t think it’s likely this year.
3 votes (10%)
I don’t think my company will be acquired or acquire another company this year.
12 votes (39%)
Poll posted on 9/15/2020 - Total responses: 31

Distributors, what is the state of your largest client?

It has reopened for business and is buying.
18 votes (78%)
It has reopened for business but not yet buying.
4 votes (17%)
It has not reopened but I am in touch with my client frequently.
1 votes (4%)
It has not yet reopened and I am not in frequent contact.
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 9/10/2020 - Total responses: 23

How would you rate your current productivity level?

Better now than six months ago.
8 votes (29%)
Worse now than six months ago.
8 votes (29%)
It's the same as always.
12 votes (43%)
Poll posted on 9/8/2020 - Total responses: 28

As a distributor, what aspect of a virtual trade show is most valuable to you?

Seeing new products
4 votes (10%)
Finding new supplier sources
3 votes (8%)
Networking with existing suppliers
5 votes (13%)
Feeling a part of an industry event
3 votes (8%)
All of these
21 votes (54%)
None of these
3 votes (8%)
Poll posted on 9/3/2020 - Total responses: 39

What sales/prospecting approach is proving most successful at this time?

Direct mail
2 votes (5%)
Personalized emails
10 votes (26%)
General emails
2 votes (5%)
Phone calls
9 votes (24%)
Self-promo
3 votes (8%)
Spec samples
5 votes (13%)
Texts
1 votes (3%)
Social Media
0 votes (0%)
Nothing is working
6 votes (16%)
Poll posted on 9/1/2020 - Total responses: 38

If you’ve used PPAI’s Promo Connect, how did you hear about?

The PPAI website
12 votes (43%)
Social media
1 votes (4%)
A friend or co-worker
2 votes (7%)
Other
10 votes (36%)
What's Promo Connect?
3 votes (11%)
Poll posted on 8/27/2020 - Total responses: 28

How can Promo Connect offer more value to you and the entire membership?

Provide more organized forums for important industry discussions
6 votes (26%)
Provide more opportunity to promote companies and their products and services
3 votes (13%)
Offer more communities focused on specific topics or job functions
10 votes (43%)
Nothing, I think it offers enough value as is.
4 votes (17%)
Poll posted on 8/25/2020 - Total responses: 23

If you use Promo Connect, to what degree does it benefit you?

I consider Promo Connect a major benefit.
2 votes (9%)
I consider Promo Connect a standard benefit.
5 votes (23%)
I consider Promo Connect a minor benefit.
13 votes (59%)
I’m unfamiliar with Promo Connect
2 votes (9%)
Poll posted on 8/20/2020 - Total responses: 22

For what purpose do you use Promo Connect?

To seek referrals and best practices from peers
1 votes (4%)
To discuss industry business such as, challenges, successes and advice
3 votes (13%)
To meet new industry professionals
0 votes (0%)
I only use Promo Connect for volunteer committee work.
5 votes (22%)
All of the above
2 votes (9%)
None of the above
12 votes (52%)
Poll posted on 8/18/2020 - Total responses: 23

Do you use PPAI Promo Connect?

Yes, I use it regularly
2 votes (14%)
Yes, I use it occasionally
3 votes (21%)
I have used it a few times.
6 votes (43%)
No, I have never used it.
3 votes (21%)
Poll posted on 8/13/2020 - Total responses: 14

Which of the following PPAI deliverables would be most useful to you at this time?

News and information
8 votes (31%)
Virtual trade shows
3 votes (12%)
Online/virtual education
4 votes (15%)
Research and data
5 votes (19%)
Information/communications to send to clients
6 votes (23%)
None of these
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 8/11/2020 - Total responses: 26

Which client industry segment is most active for your business right now?

Health care
7 votes (23%)
Financial
3 votes (10%)
Education
8 votes (27%)
Manufacturing
1 votes (3%)
Non-profit
1 votes (3%)
None of these
10 votes (33%)
Poll posted on 8/6/2020 - Total responses: 30

What topic would you be most interested to listen to on a PromoTalks podcast?

Forecasting and preparation for 2021 and beyond
6 votes (29%)
How companies are refocusing to drive business
8 votes (38%)
Tips for job seekers in today's economic landscape
0 votes (0%)
Attitudes about sourcing offshore and domestically
3 votes (14%)
Innovation and inspiration for new product development
4 votes (19%)
Poll posted on 8/4/2020 - Total responses: 21

Are you anticipating hiring any new employees this year?

Yes, definitely
5 votes (19%)
Maybe
10 votes (38%)
No, definitely
10 votes (38%)
Not sure yet
1 votes (4%)
Poll posted on 7/30/2020 - Total responses: 26

Where are you spending most of your time right now?

Generating new business
8 votes (22%)
Working with current customers
14 votes (38%)
Just trying to keep the doors open
8 votes (22%)
Strategic planning for 2021 and beyond
6 votes (16%)
None of these
1 votes (3%)
Poll posted on 7/28/2020 - Total responses: 37

Once trade shows reopen, what priority will end-user shows have on your priority list as an exhibitor or attendee compared with industry trade shows?

High priority
7 votes (23%)
Medium priority
6 votes (19%)
Low priority
18 votes (58%)
Poll posted on 7/21/2020 - Total responses: 31

Where should PPAI focus most of its attention over the next 12 months?

Trade shows (virtual and/or live)
17 votes (31%)
Education (virtual and/or live)
20 votes (37%)
Research
6 votes (11%)
Legislative advocacy
9 votes (17%)
None of these
2 votes (4%)
Poll posted on 7/16/2020 - Total responses: 54

When live shows do return, what protection standards do you expect regarding face masks?

Masks required for everyone
45 votes (76%)
Masks required for exhibitors only
0 votes (0%)
Masks required for distributors only
0 votes (0%)
No specific mask requirement
14 votes (24%)
Poll posted on 7/14/2020 - Total responses: 59

When will distributors be ready for in-person sales calls from suppliers?

Now
14 votes (19%)
September 2020
9 votes (12%)
December 2020
10 votes (13%)
February 2021
18 votes (24%)
Later than February 2021
24 votes (32%)
Poll posted on 7/9/2020 - Total responses: 75

If the coronavirus infection rate is no better but no worse than the current situation would you attend The PPAI EXPO in January 2021?

Yes, definitely
30 votes (19%)
Not sure yet
41 votes (27%)
Definitely not
83 votes (54%)
Poll posted on 7/7/2020 - Total responses: 154

What percent of your previous face-to-face sales calls are now being held on Zoom or another virtual conference platform?

Less than 50 percent
19 votes (16%)
About 50 percent
10 votes (8%)
More than 50 percent
57 votes (48%)
None
34 votes (28%)
Poll posted on 7/2/2020 - Total responses: 120

How interested are you in participating (either as an attendee or an exhibitor) in a digital trade show?

Very interested
37 votes (44%)
Somewhat interested
27 votes (32%)
Not at all interested
21 votes (25%)
Poll posted on 6/25/2020 - Total responses: 85

What percentage of your sales have shifted to personal protective equipment (face masks, medical gowns, face shields, etc.)?

At least 50%
20 votes (21%)
About 30%
19 votes (20%)
About 10%
8 votes (8%)
Less than 10% or none
48 votes (51%)
Poll posted on 6/23/2020 - Total responses: 95

If your employees have been working from home, are you considering allowing them to continue on a semi-permanent basis instead of returning to the office?

Yes
21 votes (36%)
Yes, for certain positions
22 votes (38%)
No
15 votes (26%)
Poll posted on 6/18/2020 - Total responses: 58

How has working from home affected your personal productivity?

My productivity has increased
22 votes (36%)
My productivity has decreased
14 votes (23%)
I haven’t noticed any change
25 votes (41%)
Poll posted on 6/16/2020 - Total responses: 61

Have you taken advantage of any government support programs?

Yes
27 votes (59%)
No
19 votes (41%)
Not yet, but planning to do so
0 votes (0%)
Poll posted on 6/11/2020 - Total responses: 46

Which one of these positive changes for your company has emerged from the pandemic and ensuing shutdown?

It revealed new talent and new leaders within my company
2 votes (5%)
It made my company re-think and improve our marketing and company image
11 votes (30%)
It made my company re-think the way our office and staff are organized
6 votes (16%)
It made the company repurpose and change the type of product(s) we offer
7 votes (19%)
I have not seen any positive changes in my company since the shutdown.
11 votes (30%)
Poll posted on 6/9/2020 - Total responses: 37

Have you had to make any staffing changes as a result of the pandemic?

Yes, some employee layoffs
20 votes (44%)
Yes, some employee furloughs
8 votes (18%)
Not yet, but layoffs or furloughs are still likely
5 votes (11%)
None at all
12 votes (27%)
Poll posted on 6/4/2020 - Total responses: 45

When do you see your sales returning to pre-lockdown levels?

Q1 2021
21 votes (18%)
Q2 2021
34 votes (30%)
Q3 2021
31 votes (27%)
Later than Q3 2021
28 votes (25%)
Poll posted on 6/2/2020 - Total responses: 114

When will you feel safe to travel by air?

September
71 votes (36%)
November
14 votes (7%)
January
16 votes (8%)
Not sure
98 votes (49%)
Poll posted on 5/28/2020 - Total responses: 199

Which, if any, would affect your attendance at a trade show?

Crowds on the show floor
130 votes (54%)
Cleanliness of convention center and hotel
28 votes (12%)
Flights and car services in the show city
38 votes (16%)
None of these
46 votes (19%)
Poll posted on 5/26/2020 - Total responses: 242

When do you think you’ll be comfortable going to a trade show?

September
146 votes (32%)
November
22 votes (5%)
January
103 votes (22%)
Not sure
188 votes (41%)
Poll posted on 5/21/2020 - Total responses: 459

Where do you think we are on the timeline of COVID-19’s impact on our industry?

Still in the beginning
141 votes (30%)
In the middle
188 votes (40%)
We've hit the bottom and are close to starting to climb out of it
109 votes (23%)
Not sure
28 votes (6%)
Poll posted on 5/19/2020 - Total responses: 466