Here’s What You Missed at Print+Promo’s Final Distributor Connect of 2018

Print+Promo, the Philadelphia-based leading source of business strategies for distributor sales professionals, recently concluded its final Distributor Connect of 2018. For this event, which ran Nov. 7 through 9, distributor attendees traveled to the Scottsdale Marriott Suites Old Town in scenic Scottsdale, Ariz., where they were given the opportunity to expand their book of business with leading industry suppliers.

“We just completed our Scottsdale Distributor Connect event, and the immediate response from our sponsoring suppliers was: ‘When and where is the next one?’” noted Jim Harvie, publisher of Print+Promo. “This was our 10th Distributor Connect and these networking events have continually been a win-win for the suppliers, as well as the distributors we invite to meet with them.”

What had our participants buzzing? Here are three things you missed if you weren’t there:

1. Quality Time With Top Suppliers

After years of walking the floors of big industry trade shows, you’re probably tired of fighting for a measly five minutes of face time with exhibitors. We get it. Print+Promo’s Distributor Connect was designed to bring great people together to make great things happen—with ease. Our event pairs top-selling distributors with up to 25 well-known print and promotional product suppliers for one-on-one, 20-minute, pre-scheduled meetings in supplier suites.

“What makes our events successful are the quality people that attend and the great format of the event, which lends itself to the ideal atmosphere for suppliers and distributors to sit down and find solutions that work on both of their behalves,” Harvie said.

The good news doesn’t stop there. Distributor Connect attendees are given additional chances to network. Catered breakfasts and lunch, along with a private offsite dinner at The Clayton on the Park, are just a few examples of what our Scottsdale guests experienced.

Those 2.5 days out of the office were well spent for Jennifer Cherney, owner of Yorkville, Illinois-based distributorship PriMedia Source LLC. “I am so glad that I attended the Print+Promo Distributor Connect event in Scottsdale,” she shared. “This was, by far, the most valuable and organized event that I attended all year. It has opened doors for my business, and I look forward to partnering with many of the manufacturers that were there.”

2. New Revenue Buckets

Your meetings are what you make of them, of course, but there are steps you can take to spark productivity. Try going in with an open mind. That print supplier or promo provider you didn’t think mattered for your bottom line? They might become your next valuable partner. “I have been doing this for many years, and I thought I knew all the vendors that I needed,” said Jim Stedman, owner of Proforma Business Forms & Graphics. “I, however, learned a great deal at these meetings.”

For others, the event gave them a way to uncover new revenue streams with old industry friends. “This was not only a good opportunity to meet face to face with new potential suppliers, but a terrific opportunity to find longtime suppliers had added capabilities and strengths we did not even know about,” according to Russ Truluck, president of Inform Systems Data Documents Inc., Arden, N.C.

3. Glorious Food

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’ve got food on the brain. From an onsite Welcome Reception to that previously mentioned gathering at The Clayton on the Park, there was plenty of it to go around.

Relieved it’s lunchtime because these photos from last night’s Welcome Reception at #DistributorConnect - Scottsdale have our mouths watering. pic.twitter.com/xCfcSsYduM

— Print+Promo (@GoPrintAndPromo) November 8, 2018

Good food, good company and good ideas—that’s what we’re thankful for in 2018.

This is why we do what we do. So many laughs at last night’s dinner after a day of productive meetings. #DistributorConnect pic.twitter.com/stG46w28Ni

— Print+Promo (@GoPrintAndPromo) November 9, 2018

Reservations are now open for 2019 events. Dates are:

• May 15 to 17, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Nov. 4 to 6, 2019, in San Diego

If you are interested in attending an upcoming Distributor Connect, contact Mike Cooper via email at distributorconnect@napco.com, or call (215) 238-5434. Complete the Distributor Connect inquiry questionnaire located here. For event information and testimonials, visit connect.goprintandpromo.com.

Limited spaces are still available for interested suppliers, as well, but you would need to act quickly. To learn more, email Jim Harvie at jharvie@napco.com, or call (215) 238-5436.