Profiles

One of the biggest changes in the U.S. incentive and rewards business over the past decade is the growth of the specialized wholesalers and fulfillment companies that now represent or support many of the leading brands in the marketplace. In a trend accelerated by the 2008 recession, some brands have ... [ read more ]

A lot of suppliers claim they want to revolutionize the reward experience, and over the last decade retail gift cards, individual travel packages, web-based catalogs and, more recently, companies offering reward experiences such as custom fittings and new types of e-codes have continued a long tradition of innovation in the rewards business. ... [ read more ]

To see how the emergence of the engagement field is affecting traditional providers of engagement solutions, from leadership and assessment to analytics, innovation and incentives, ESM periodically interviews leaders in each of these areas to gain insights from executives at the front lines. This time: Jim Dittman of Dittman Incentive Marketing.... [ read more ]

PMC, the incentive fulfillment division of Almo, one of the nation's largest wholesalers of consumer electronics and appliances to the incentive market, has a singular focus in the marketplace: Support its resellers. According to Eric Anderson, Director of Special Markets Sales, his division only sells to incentive, recognition, loyalty and other companies that ... [ read more ]

Few companies in the rewards and recognition business have built a larger international presence than Toronto-based Carlton Group. According to Founder and CEO Rob Purdy, the company can deliver in-country fulfillment in 85 countries (135 via trans-border shipping) and the entire world via digital rewards. Its catalogs and ... [ read more ]

Sometimes, good news in business comes with some challenges too. When Marriott Corp. decided to drop out of active participation in the corporate gift card market, Hyatt Gift Cards and Certificates experienced a significant increase in demand, while at the same time highlighting the issues it would have to address to profit from that demand.... [ read more ]

What's it like to be an innovator and gradually watch as dozens of others pile on? Brett Hatch, Global Senior Director of Corporate Gifts for Maui Jim, is experiencing that now. Maui Jim undoubtedly pioneered the concept of the "experiential" merchandise program 15 years ago for a major insurance company that arranged for... [ read more ]

Few people have a better perspective on what's happening in the rewards and recognition business than Dave Roberts, President of Power Sales Inc., one of the leading wholesale fulfillment companies specializing on the incentive, loyalty, promotional and recognition marketplace. We recently asked ... [ read more ]

The transition to engagement consultant, recognition specialist or incentive professional makes sense for promotional products distributors because they already have the contacts and relationships in place... [ read more ]

Like many companies in the U.S., Procurement International Ltd., Wickingham, Great Britain, founds its way into the rewards and recognition business by accident. The company was founded in 1979 as an importer of optical and audio products to support the promotional activities of... [ read more ]