We have grown accustomed to a do-it-yourself world. The days of having someone fill your gas tank are long gone. We seldom interact with a bank teller or a travel agent anymore. The pump jockey, the teller, the travel agent and dozens of other services have been replaced by self-directed transactions. For the most part, these are simple transactions that technology has provided the expertise necessary to successfully complete on our own.
But when it comes to professional services, if you want a professional result, work with a pro. As a sales professional, you likely don’t do your own legal reviews of a contract, design your information management platform or write your human resources policy. You seek a pro to give you a professional result.
Treat your incentive program the same way
Sales managers know that a well-designed incentive program is a cost effective way to improve business performance. Designing the program is only the first step. Selecting the right non-cash reward and making cost-effective buying decisions is what turns a program into a memorable experience for your sales force and employees. Having a reward that excites and delights the recognition winners is a proven motivator of future performance.
This isn’t the place for a do-it-yourself approach. This is the place for a pro — an IMRA pro!
IMRA is your source for professional merchandise advice
The Incentive Manufacturers and Representative Alliance (IMRA) is the oldest organization of incentive professionals specializing in the use of merchandise in incentive programs. The mission of IMRA is to bring together the suppliers of incentive merchandise and their independent manufacturer’s sales representative to support the effective selection, purchase and fulfillment of incentive merchandise. IMRA is a strategic industry group (SIG) of the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA), an umbrella organization for the incentive industry.
What do you get when you work with an IMRA pro? Let’s first look at the IMRA sales representative.
• Access to the top brands in the market across every conceivable product category. Brands with products that are in demand. Brands and products that inspire. Brands to fill every day needs. Brands and products with the aspirational pull to drive performance improvement.
• Lowest factory-direct pricing is quoted for your programs. IMRA sales professionals representing these
top brands provide pricing specifically designed for the corporate reward market.
• Expertise and experience in recommending products that are on trend. Expertise in and access to industry research to help you design an effective merchandise reward program. There are years of experience available in this group of incentive pros.
• No added cost, just added value. Unlike other service professionals, it costs you nothing to engage the services of an IMRA sales professional.
IMRA suppliers are the other half of the merchandise team. IMRA consists of suppliers who have dedicated the manpower and resources to support the very specific needs of your sales incentive programs.
• Product selection and availability that puts the right product, at the right price, in the right place, at the right time. This includes the ability to offer custom packaging, thank-you notes, unique product combinations and other enhancements to deliver a memorable experience.
• Knowledge and expertise accumulated from years of experience in working with the special needs of this market segment and participation in incentive market forums, organizations and education.
Sales professionals understand the value that another professional brings to the table. If your organization partners with another company to develop your incentive programs, ask if they work with IMRA sales representatives and suppliers. If it is an internally developed program make sure you are getting the best bang for the buck by working with the IMRA pros. How do you find them? They’re right at your fingertips in the IMRA Directory included in this issue, or for more information visit the IMRA website at imraonline.org.
Click HERE to downloand the IMRA directory.
Ted Moravec is executive vice president of Elite Creations and president of the Incentive Manufacturers Representatives Alliance.
