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PPAI’s PromoTalks podcast, launched in March 2020, is bringing industry thought leaders, business executives and subject matter experts together for insightful, engaging conversations on a wide range of subjects that are relevant and important to promotional products professionals.

Not surprisingly, considering the issues rocking the promotional products market since its launch, PromoTalks has examined the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the promotional products market from several angles. In its first episode, on March 19, PPAI Director of Publications/Editor Tina Berres Filipski facilitated a discussion with PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE; PPAI Chair Ira Neaman, MAS, and Chair-Elect Todd Pottebaum, MAS+,  about the effects of the coronavirus on the promotional products industry, including the challenges business are facing , the economic and personal impact of the pandemic and the threat of a recession along with advice and opportunities for suppliers and distributors. Bellantone later moderated two subsequent podcasts, first a conversation  with Jo-an Lantz, MAS, president and CEO of Geiger, and Norm Hullinger, CAS, CEO of alphabroder, on what leadership looks like in the midst of a global pandemic  and with Jeremy Lott, president of SanMar, and Greg Muzzillo, founder of Proforma, on selling in a post-coronavirus world. 

In another episode, Brady Peterson, owner of Scout Creative Media, a PPAI member company, and Josh Eaton, owner of Media Grabbers production studio, spoke on using video content to connect with customers during lockdown and shelter-in-place orders.

PromoTalks is also home to Generation SPARK, a series of conversations with young professionals in the promotional products industry on a range of topics relevant to their careers.

Tune in to listen to these insightful and helpful discussions, available free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, at promotalks.buzzsprout.com.

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James Khattak is news editor of PPB.