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RESOURCES
The ASSOCIATION OF PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS SALESPEOPLE (APPS)
seeks to be the “go-to” resource for industry salespeople. While providing relevant and timely information generally, APPS will focus on three areas in particular: Community; Education; and Information – all linked directly to the APPS tagline of ENGAGE, EDUCATE, EMPOWER.
APPS will always be responsive to the needs and desires of its member salespeople and will continuously strive to provide resources appropriate for and requested by its membership.
Community
Fostering Engagement and Meaningful Community
Through a variety of means, APPS will facilitate community and engagement. Establishing a community of peers and fostering engagement that emphasizes learning and sharing are among the many goals of APPS.
Community Forum
and Community Groups
APPS will establish a Community Forum enabling member salespeople to engage with other member salespeople regarding a variety of topics. In addition to meaningful and mutually beneficial connection via the Community Forum among member salespeople generally, APPS will also facilitate community and engagement among subsets of the larger membership base through smaller APPS Community Groups. These smaller communities will be established to connect similarly situated salespeople based on, among other distinguishing characteristics, the following:
Geographic location
Years in the industry
Sales volume
Vertical markets served
Other likely APPS Community Groups will support women, minorities, and salespeople serving rural communities. APPS Community Groups will be established as appropriate to better serve the needs of the member salespeople.
Mastermind and Mentorship Programs
Mastermind Groups will be formed to support similarly situated salespeople. These Mastermind Groups will encourage interaction and idea-sharing among the group members on topics relevant to the group. Valuable exchanges of information, experiences and ideas will serve as a foundation for “best practices” discussions.
A Mentorship Program will be established connecting newer salespeople with more experienced salespeople. While the program will be designed to support the newer salesperson, the more experienced salesperson will benefit from the relationship as well.
In-Person Events
APPS will host in-person member events and informal get-togethers at industry trade shows. Other stand-alone events and salesperson awards programs are planned as well.
Education
Providing Knowledge and Best Practices for Success
Another important objective of APPS is to provide valuable education to help salespeople be more successful. In addition to education offered elsewhere within the promotional products industry, APPS will deliver, through multiple education sources, proven and impactful learning opportunities specifically geared to salespeople.
Certainly, industry-focused education is important, and will be provided. In addition, though, education designed to help salespeople generally become better salespeople will be a priority.
APPS will educate its member salespeople regarding strategies and tactics that will help them be more professional, more effective, and more successful. This will be beneficial to themselves, to the distributors for whom they work, and to the industry as a whole.
Online courses, panel discussions, presentations, and other educational opportunities will be offered. In addition to existing industry certifications, APPS will be establishing its own salesperson professional designation.
Information
Instilling Confidence to Seize Opportunities
Information is power. Unfortunately, information relevant and important to salespeople is often not readily available to them. This frequently places salespeople at a disadvantage. The overarching objective of APPS is to inform and educate its member salespeople regarding their role in the promotional products industry and to empower them to make informed decisions that are in their best interest –
personally, professionally and financially.
APPS will provide empowering content to its member salespeople in the form of:
Comprehensive e-newsletters
In-depth feature articles
Advice columns from SMEs (subject-matter-experts)
Interviews (with industry leaders, salespeople, etc.)
Surveys and analysis
Infographics
And more.
Topics addressed by APPS
will include:
Sales and marketing
Technology and productivity
Compensation and benefits
Contracts and agreements
Career advice/advancement
Legal, finance, and accounting
And more.
Other Resources
and Benefits
APPS will seek to provide its member salespeople with industry deals, discounts, and special arrangements and opportunities (in a variety of forms) from suppliers, service providers and other vendors. APPS also will seek to provide special arrangements and opportunities from non-industry vendors and service providers as well. APPS will continuously strive to provide added and enhanced value to its member salespeople.