LeeAnn Schumacher Joins Hinda as Director of Merchandising

Hinda Incentives is pleased to announce the newest addition to the team. LeeAnn Schumacher has been named the Director of Merchandising. Previously, LeeAnn was the director, merchandising and procurement for Summit Group, LLC. Prior to that, she was vice president business management/ sourcing for Enesco, Inc. and also had stints with Wilton Industries and Spiegel, Inc. She brings more than 25 years of global sourcing experience to Hinda.

“LeeAnn brings extensive experience in all aspects of the incentive merchandising supply chain to Hinda,” says Hinda president Dave Peer. “Her client focus provides the ability to partner with our suppliers as well as with clients, providing a new level of engagement in this important area of Hinda.”

LeeAnn, who has her Incentive Professional (IP) designation from the Incentive Marketing Association, will be responsible for finding innovative products and designing new merchandise assortments to programs. “I’m really excited to be working with such a successful and growing organization,” she says. “I plan on strengthening supplier relations and using these techniques to maximize revenue.”

LeeAnn lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband, Jeffrey Forsythe. She enjoys reading, vintage shopping, scrapbooking, art and theater. She’s also an avid button collector.

Welcome aboard, LeeAnn!

Dave Peer Talks to Premium Incentive Products about the Future of the IMA

“As we approach the end of the year, the IMA maintains its quest to inspire – through annual events such as the Motivation Show – and looks to 2013 and beyond with optimism, continuing its position as a promoter of the incentive industry,” says Deborah L. Vence, Associate Editor of Premium Incentive Products (PIP) magazine, at the beginning of her article “IMA Roundtable: Education and Partnerships are Vital for Incentive Industry Growth.”

Vence’s article in the November/December 2012 issue surveys top industry experts who are also IMA board members about what the IMA has to offer, and Hinda president Dave Peer – who is also the president of the IMA – weighed in.

According to her article, Vence states that, “…the Incentive Marketing Association [is] an organization that’s become known to many for imparting value to its members by offering education, research and networking opportunities, all while presenting resourceful ways to acknowledge employees, sales professionals, channel partners and customers.” And there’s no sign of this changing or slowing down in the coming year.

“A big benefit is the opportunity to exchange information with people who are experienced and who are facing the same challenges as you,” Peer says. “[There’s a] great deal of trust, so even competitors can get together and discuss things in a way that is mutually beneficial… One of the most important benefits is the annual IMA summit, which will be held in Denver in 2013. The Summit has emerged as one of the premier events in our industry where top talent is able to get together, attend workshops, exchange information and educate one another.”

Peer also says that that the IMA and its members are vital when it comes to lobbying the benefits of properly designed and managed reward programs with legislators in Washington, DC. The industry came under fire earlier this year with the GSA scandal, and the IMA and its members have taken pains in the aftermath to return the industry to a positive light and to stress the key initiatives of the IMA, which Peer says include ensuring the financial strength of the association, continuing to improve member benefits and communication and collaboration with industry trade groups to further generate awareness of the business.

“I’m confident about the future of our industry,” he says. “We’re seeing significant recovery from the Great Recession, and companies have recognized the need to engage and retain employees. There is also fierce competition in consumer loyalty… The IMA will remain the primary resource and advocate for all facets of the incentive industry but will adapt to change as the market does. The IMA services as the primary industry resource for education, research, advocacy and networking, and the association will evolve and continue to serve in this important role.”

Hinda Announces 2012 Golden Carrot Award Winners: Apple and Mach 1 Global Services

Hinda Incentives has announced the winners of the prestigious Golden Carrot Award, which were presented at the Hinda Incentives headquarters today in conjunction with the Motivation Show. 

Apple and Mach 1 Global Services, Hinda’s home delivery carrier, were selected as this year’s winners by demonstrating a solid commitment to providing innovation, service and cutting-edge products to the multi-billion-dollar incentive market. Hinda’s Golden Carrot Award recognizes its supplier partners who have consistently demonstrated dedication to the field of incentives.

"When you put two top companies like Apple and Hinda together, it results in a great partnership,” says Rick Bowen, Hinda’s Merchandise Manager. “Candice Lacrosse (Senior Account Manager, Corporate Gifting and Rewards for Apple, Great Lakes Region), has worked very hard with our team to include Apple products in our programs in a timely manner. We are both dedicated to delivering the best product and the best service to our award winners. Candice and Apple have been supportive and are an important partnership."

“It's an honor to receive the Golden Carrot Award,” says Lacrosse. “We’re very excited about it. We have built a solid relationship with both Rick Bowen and Michelle Flores (Merchandise Buyer and Hinda) and only see that relationship growing. Both are a pleasure to work with and they definitely keep us on our toes.”

Winning the Golden Carrot Award was a sweet surprise for Kari Thomsen, District Manager for Mach 1 Global Services.

“We are so happy to receive this award because we had to work hard to earn Hinda’s business,” says Thomsen. “I went to see Benito [Bustamante, Hinda’s Warehouse Manager] every Thursday to promise him the world. It took a lot of work to gain his trust and earn some business, but after six months he finally gave us an opportunity. Now I feel like we are an extension of Hinda.” Mach 1 Global Services CEO, Jamie Fletcher, who is based in Phoenix, also attended the award presentation.

Bustamante did finally give Thomsen an opportunity, but admits they tested Mach 1 with some really difficult deliveries.

“We gave Mach 1 some very challenging shipments and they stepped up to the plate,” says Bustamante. “Kari goes above and beyond. She’s on call 24/7 for us. She gets it. She knows we are delivering awards and how important that is. At Hinda, we deliver a superior customer experience.”

Selection for the Golden Carrot Award is very competitive. The extensive list of criteria for winning suppliers include high-quality products, innovation, timeliness of deliveries, prompt follow-up, the ability to provide updated product information and reliability, among others.

Check out pictures from the ceremony here!

Two Recognition Leaders Merge: The TharpeRobbins Company Teams Up with Hinda Incentives

Based on a foundation of innovation and success, two leaders in the managed recognition and rewards industry have joined forces. Hinda Incentives based in Chicago has been acquired by the TharpeRobbins Company Inc. headquartered in Statesville, N.C. The companies will continue to operate separately under their current leaderships, with Brett Tharpe as president and chief executive officer of TharpeRobbins and Dave Peer as president of Hinda Incentives.

“This strategic merger combines the strengths of two companies built on innovation, customer service and flexibility,” Tharpe says. “Together we will strengthen our consultative services, rewards and new programs to help our customers achieve higher levels of employee engagement and retention in an increasingly competitive labor market.”

“The collective strength of our companies and our commitment to the incentive industry will provide clients with the best possible resources when implementing reward and recognition programs,” Peer says.  “With TharpeRobbins’s expertise in the employee arena and Hinda’s expertise in the consumer, sales and channel programs, the products and services offered by each company naturally complement one another. It is an ideal fit.” 

Hinda’s focus remains on being the premier award supplier offering innovative technology and award solutions. Through infinitE℠, the 40-year-old Hinda Incentives offers millions of reward choices ranging from brand-name merchandise and digital awards to books and entertainment with flexible solutions and well-developed web platforms for program management.

TharpeRobbins is one of the first companies to bundle program design and administration with product fulfillment, thereby providing human resources professionals with one-stop shopping for employee recognition solutions. With its world-class technology, ranging from basic reporting to full system integration for service and performance awards programs, TharpeRobbins offers options that are easily configurable. 

“Today’s dynamic workforce is diverse with rapidly changing interests,” Tharpe says.  “This merger will enable us to bring ever creative solutions while identifying emerging trends. We will be able to provide even greater program configuration and corporate personalization in the products we offer, as well as in the presentation of the awards.”

For more than 100 years, TharpeRobbins’ rich history as an innovator has covered the breadth of managed reward and recognition programs.  The company fosters superior performance by creating new standards for employee recognition and rewards through imaginative solutions, cutting edge programs, flawless execution, professional service and world-class technology. TharpeRobbins built its reputation on developing customized programs to help clients reach their employee attraction and retention goals. The company is passionate about recognition because they know that an engaged workforce produces satisfied customers, which in turn produces more business. With TharpeRobbins, Recognition Changes Everything.   

The privately-held TharpeRobbins was created through the February 2007 merger of The Robbins Company, founded in 1892, and the Tharpe Company Inc., founded in 1981. The company headquarters are located on a 25-acre campus in Statesville, N.C. and include an extensive showroom and state-of-the-art distribution facility. The ISO-certified Attleboro, Mass., operations include creative services, software development and jewelry manufacturing.

Dave Peer Talks to PIP Mag About Trends in Merchandise

In “The Power of Merchandise,” Premium Incentive Products contributing writer Rick Dandes brings up the argument that’s ubiquitous in the rewards and recognition world: What do employees really want, merchandise or cash?

Many employees say that they really want cash, but most of the time even they don’t know the real implications behind this. As we’ve outlined in past Hinda Blog entries, research shows that when it comes to effective rewards and incentives, merchandise is a far more powerful solution.

The main reason merchandise is the favored mode of incentivizing employees is because it has trophy value. You can’t exactly wave a stack of cash in front of your friends and coworkers and expect any kind of wow factor – and many companies frown on employees disclosing the amount of their cash bonuses among each other (for good reason). But if the reward is a new iPad® or other coveted item, a good story of how it was obtained comes with that reward.

Plus, it’s too easy to lump a cash bonus in with salary, in which case the bonus likely goes toward bills or other necessities and is quickly forgotten. Dave Peer, President of Hinda Incentives and also of the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA), says another good thing about merchandise is that it’s always changing, which can be refreshing and exciting for employees. Plus, it makes pleasing everyone’s variety of tastes that much easier.

While we’re on the subject, what trends does Peer see coming up in the world of merchandise incentives? “Here at Hinda,” Peer says, “we are seeing something different…in that electronics has declined to our number two product category behind home products. We’re seeing products like vacuum cleaners, kitchen electrics and one-cup coffeemakers as most desired merchandise.”

Part of the decline in electronics, Peer says, has to do with the fact that people can now get their camera and their music player integrated with their cell phone, and more people are opting for multi-feature smart phones as opposed to a separate cell phone, point-and-shoot camera and MP3 player.

However, Peer has been seeing an increase in TVs, now that HD and flat-panel price points have come down a bit since their advent. “Our television business has become much more robust than it had been previously,” Peer says. “That’s an interesting trend.”

Other trends Peer sees is an increase in the grills, grill tools and patio accessories segment, which he attributes to people doing more entertaining at home in recent years. He’s seen an increase in high-quality tool sets for similar reasons – people are staying home more and looking for little projects or ways to stay entertained at home.

Read the full article here.

Dave Peer Participates in Incentive Mag’s Annual Industry Roundtable

Dave Peer, Hinda’s president and current president of the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA), was invited to participate in “Incentive” magazine’s 11^th Annual Industry Roundtable, which took place this past spring in the boardroom of Apella™ in Midtown Manhattan. The Roundtable involves the insights and expertise of 11 top-notch players in the incentive industry. This year’s discussion centers on the return of incentives and the growing importance of ROI and wellness.

“We’re seeing some dramatic changes in redemption patterns,” Peer says about what’s popular in merchandise lately. “Electronics, for Hinda Incentives, is now the No. 2 redemption category. I’ve never seen that before; electronics was always on top, whereas household products like single-serve coffee makers, vacuums and so on, are now our No. 1 redemption category.”

Another key discussion point is gift cards and where they currently fall on the incentives spectrum. At Hinda, we are seeing a leveling off traditional gift cards as a rewards option, and Peer explains the three-fold reason for this.

“The first is, there’s a growing recognition by program sponsors that the gift cards’ economics are inferior to other reward options,” Peer explains. “The second thing is that the gift card in general has an inferior trophy value [compared to merchandise]. The final thing is the introduction and development of digital media – music downloads, movie downloads, book downloads – which are addressing a key space that gift cards occupied in an awards structure at the lower dollar value, the logistics, the ease [of use and administration].”

One of the questions posed to the panel states, “The industry learned the hard way to pay attention to politics in the last few years. What’s the outlook?” Peer refers to the recent GSA scandal and the IMA’s response as an example when he says, “We are trying to pull together various groups so that we can be more effective in Washington, so that we can be more proactive rather than reactive. That was recently reflected in our response to the General Services Administration scandal, where the wasteful expenditure of government money by amateurs really had a negative impact. We were able to get out there and respond quickly. There’s an ongoing effort, and we’re not done.”

Read the full Roundtable discussion in the September issue of “Incentive” magazine. In the meantime, watch videos of what the panelists had to say outside the boardroom at www.incentivemag.com.

IMA and The Motivation Show Join Forces with PPAI’s brand. in 2014

The Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) and The Motivation Show announced today that they will produce a new annual event in cooperation with PPAI’s brand. starting in 2014.  This new event, called The Motivation Show Las Vegas, will be sponsored by IMA and include a combined exhibit hall with brand. along with a conference program open to all users and resellers of incentive and recognition products and services.  PPAI’s brand., the promotional product industry’s most highly regarded incentive products showcase, is scheduled for January 15-17, 2014, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

“The launch of The Motivation Show Las Vegas represents the results of an ongoing collaborative effort between the IMA and PPAI," said Dave Peer, CPIM, President of IMA and President of Hinda Incentives. "As leading organizations for our industry, we recognize that our combined efforts will produce a valuable showcase and education event for our market. Together we are all stronger and more effective.”   

According to Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI president and CEO, “We are honored to combine forces with the IMA to fully realize the potential of incentive and recognition products’ strengths in the industry. This strategic alliance will provide access and exposure to new markets in new ways while delivering greater value to our members. By combining PPAI’s brand. and The Motivation Show Las Vegas in one location, we have achieved another goal in fully realizing our vision to significantly enhance the show experience. This alliance will help bolster the category’s position in the market by offering new levels of connectivity to stakeholders like never before.”

IMA and The Motivation Show also announced that the dates of the 2013 trade show and conference in Chicago will move to May 6-8, 2014 (Pre-Show Education: May 6, Exhibits: May 7-8). The Motivation Show Chicago will continue to feature the incentive and recognition industry’s premiere conference program, along with an exhibit hall of the leading brand name merchandise, gift card and experiential reward suppliers.    

“We’re very excited about the opportunity to co-locate a new event with PPAI’s highly successful brand.," said Pete Erickson, Managing Director of The Motivation Show. "We’re anxious to provide the distributor community with an opportunity to learn more about how incentives can help them expand their product offering and capture new corporate business. 

“We also see this as a great opportunity for our community of incentive end-buyers and resellers in the Western states to have access to education, exhibits, and networking that has previously only been available in Chicago," Erickson continues. "We believe this co-location between IMA, The Motivation Show, and PPAI will be a catalyst to increasing the use of incentive rewards and promotional products throughout corporate America.”