Monthly Update

Turning what was learned into action.

2025’s focus was to be DOING BETTER for the distributor subscriber to PromoEQP.

This singular idea has been the center of everything that PromoEQP has been actively doing. This changed our approach to the way we handle outside events, how we focus our partnerships in the market, and even the driving force behind getting out of our offices and onto the road to visit with partnering suppliers.

Now, as we get ready to round the corner into the second half of the year, PromoEQP is preparing to announce a package of benefit enhancements to the distributors of PromoEQP. These enhancements will be connected with an initial collection of strategic suppliers who have stepped up to tell us that they want to put effort and benefits into the hands of the PromoEQP distributor. Throughout May, a full plan and approach will be crafted, and we will announce and detail this program next month.

Before getting too far over our skis, PromoEQP must acknowledge YOU for WHY these suppliers are placing focus on the traditional distributor. A program like PromoEQP can only ever do so much to grab attention… It is the work that you are doing every day that is truly impactful.

These opportunities are happening because YOU have grabbed the supplier’s attention. This is exactly why, on a whiteboard that sits above my desk, I have written a single phrase in permanent marker:

The distributor is indispensable.

That phrase epitomizes my belief and represents the driving focus of my professional life. Whatever it is that PromoEQP does, it does so in honoring the knowledge that it must serve the distributor’s needs before anything else.

Suppliers are excited over what You can do… PromoEQP is excited to be a part of this ride.

Thanks again…

Jeremy Chacon

PromoEQP

312-392-1064

jeremy@promoeqp.com

Insider Information

PromoEQP Strategic Partnership

Market focused Content from PromoEQP’s strategic partners.

And now for something new

Short Story, Big Picture:

Been Here, Survived That.

I am writing directly to you, dear reader, from my heart (which means that I’m doing this without the use of any ChatGPT or AI.)

Talking to a host of promo industry people lately (LEAD, Regional meetings, and personal phone calls) and seeing all the comments on Social Media (Promotional Products Professional Page and PromoEQP Private Facebook Page), I feel that we need to remember what we are good at…

Overcoming everything that the world throws at us because of how nimble and essential our line of work is.

Today’s Short Story is a piece to help you achieve your long-term goals, aka the Big Picture.

The signature on my personal email account reads, “A man who stops advertising to save money is like a man who stops a clock to save time.” – Henry Ford.

Since I started in this industry, right out of high school, there have been three major events that, if you believed all the fear reports, should have killed the promotional products industry… regardless of the fears, Promo survived:

September - 2001

A group of people attached our land. War was the only option, and economic uncertainty was at an all-time high. Groups of distributors were putting together boxes of products that were sent to our men and women fighting overseas. Patriotic symbolism was printed, lasered, and embroidered on everything. Our industry rose to the challenge and pushed through.

Housing Crisis - 2008

Our neighbors were losing their homes. Financial institutions were losing money at an astonishing rate. No business had money to spend on frivolous marketing, but they still had to market. Our industry stepped up and offered low-cost, fast turn options to meet diminished budgets to sustain marketing during the depression. The focus was on Main Street, not Wall Street.

Covid Shut Down - 2020

No more events. No meeting people face to face. No more trade shows…with that being the bulk of what the promotional products industry sold, how were we going to get through this? Our industry was uniquely able to offer help through PPE, Signs, and “WFH Kits” that businesses could send directly to employee homes and keep commerce going.

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The trending fear word today is “Tariff.” We have been here and survived that in 2016/17.

If we stay focused on what we do best, solving the needs of the buyer in ANY economic climate, we will survive this too.

Stay diligent, smart, and nimble. Our industry is essential in this capitalistic economy.

Believe me… You got this!