Bankers Advertising Company (PPAI 101972, D8) welcomed more than 40 sales partners last month to its 2020 National Sales Meeting, which was held virtually this year. The meeting, held September 21-25, was themed after the Iowa City, Iowa, distributor’s motto for the year: “Stay Apart—Stand Together.”

“With people living in different states or with other responsibilities that have prohibited some of our sales partners from traveling to our sales meetings, this was the perfect opportunity for so many of us to ‘meet,’” says Erica Kelley‐Gogel, CAS, vice president of sales.

On Monday, attendees enjoyed a virtual trade show. Supplier partners sent in five‐ to six‐minute videos presenting their lines, which were compiled into an almost‐two‐hour trade show. The week also featured more in‐depth, “live” educational presentations from selected suppliers, peer‐to‐peer sessions for sharing knowledge and sales tips, and celebrations of sales partners who were 2019’s Top Award and Career Achievement Award recipients. They received their awards in the mail ahead of the meeting, and shared photos to the delight of all in attendance.

Sales partners and office staff also “gathered” in breakout rooms for social time. In addition, all sales partners received care packages in the mail ahead of the meeting, filled with products branded with the meeting theme as well as custom‐designed meeting notebooks. Bankers says that every effort was made to Stand Together while Stay(ing) Apart—to make sure sales partners felt welcomed and plugged in, despite the challenging circumstances of the year.