Life is a journey.
Ask Olivia. She'll always reply, "We are the sum of our experiences." May is Promotional Partners anniversary month, making it special to share this news.
Our owner Olivia was just named one of the ASI 2023 Salespeople of the Year Finalist.
There were 9 Distributor Salesperson's of the Year Finalists & 5 winners from the categories of Distributor Salespeople of the Year, Supplier Salesperson of the Year, Supplier CRS of the Year, Distributor Veteran Rep of the Year & Distributor Up-And-Comer -of the Year.
Most of our client's know we are part of two industry memberships. One of those organizations is ASI, Advertising Specialty Institute, whose purpose it to provide relevant training, information and support to help businesses grow. Keeping a competitive edge in any industry relies on investing in yourself; your professional development, your networks and your skill-sets. ASI has over 25,000 members that are either distributors or suppliers in the ad specialty industry. Together these professionals help each other reach their potential through connection & inspiration. It's the shared resources, media, education, mentors & stories that fuel growth and create relationships.
Here's her feature, within the article- written by C.J Mittica
As befitting a former art teacher, Olivia Scott looks at a promotional product and sees a canvas of creativity.
“What I get really excited about is when we can do something that makes it fit into what the messaging is – to do something really creative or unexpected with it or add a different type of value,” says the co-owner and president of Promotional Partners (asi/397983). “That’s what keeps it fresh to me.”
The approach is working. With a diverse mix of clients in healthcare, education, technology and automotive and a heavy emphasis on local clientele, the Apex, NC-based distributor hit seven-figures in sales revenue in 2022 (the second time the company has reached the mark), with Scott herself recording 77% sales growth in the last three years.
Scott started her career in teaching in the ’80s, but two decades later she and her husband Keith were looking for a change and to go into business together. They discovered the promo industry and thought it would be a good fit for their talents, and started their business in 2007 … right at the beginning of the Great Recession. “Everyone kept apologizing for their budgets,” Scott recalls. But with “no other option but to make it work,” Scott tapped into her extensive volunteering and nonprofit contacts and practiced relentless grassroots networking. Her professional skills proved be to a tremendous benefit as well. “The teaching experience was a plus for me,” she says, “because I was used to having to differentiate between many types of learners and ways of presenting information.”
Sixteen years later, Promotional Partners is thriving. Scott is the face of the business and lead salesperson, while Keith handles financials and operations (and the ever-important job of model/mannequin). Scott acknowledges the incredible support of their close-knit team of five. “They’re an amazing group, and without them we wouldn’t be here,” she says. And the collaborative dynamic that Scott prides herself on extends into her interactions with clients. “Being both creative and collaborative is just who I am,” she says. “You can’t spend 20 years being an art teacher and telling (teaching) someone to create a vision without communicating with them.”
C.J. Mittica; on of the ASI team on this article 2023 Salespeople of the Year, Big sales,big clients, big deals – these reps do it all. By Jean Erickson, Theresa Hegel, Sara Lavenduski, Christopher Ruvo & Daniel P. Smith Awards program overseen by Joan Chaykin
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