Fun, Learning and Recognition

At the recent PPAI Expo in Las Vegas some of our account executives found time for a little fun during a break from working the trade show floor. In this photo (above right) our Western Regional Sales Manager, Stephanie Critchfield was found doing the bump with a bigger and more formidable opponent during the PPMN Mixer.

Later during the show we had a group of ten of us from Vernon Sales Promotion attend the PPAI Awards Banquet. Our very own, Ms. Tonia Ho (San Francisco, CA) was recognized as a winner of a Pyramid Award for eco friendly promotion of a lapel pin made of recycled plastic. Tonia and her husband Ken, along with the rest of the Vernon sales team in attendance were very proud.

Tonia will also be recognized later when Vernon holds their National Sales Meeting in St. Petersburg, FL. At this time we expect to have 175 salespeople and guests at this three day event. Fun and sun is in store for us all.

Industry top suppliers, Bic and Hit will be hosting tours of their facilities during day one of the meeting. They will follow that up with our very own dinner cruise on the Gulf of Mexico.

With our temperature in Des Moines currently at - 10 degrees the Florida beaches sound pretty good to me.

Las Vegas Show

Five days in Las Vegas....food, drink, conversations, lots of conversations...WOW...what a grind!

I couldn't wait to head home except for one thing...the weather at home had been as low as -25 degrees. Yikes!

Considering the fact that I had not stepped outside since I arrived at the show on Monday it felt good to get outside and get some fresh air for about 30 seconds and then I was freezing.

Lots of people were definitely concerned about the future. The large companies were keeping things positive yet news of layoffs hit the airwaves on Thursday. No companies are immune from the challenges we face.

The biggest change I noticed this year wast the lack of gamblers in the casinos. The slots were not ringing. The card tables were empty. Even the "working girls" seemed to be having a tough time finding "work", if you know what I mean...and I know you do.

I think that 2009 will offer opportunities for those companies and individuals who keep their eyes and ears open...those people who do not do the same old things...those folks who do not do the same old thing.

I was taught that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. Many people in our business are by this definition, insane. I am not one of them!