Welcome to PPAI Online Education, the online source for workshops, training and professional development. To attend a webinar or an on-demand course you need a computer (PC or MAC) with internet access, a sound card and speakers. To receive MAS/CAS points for on-demand programs, please complete the Webinar Course Reporting Form.

On-Line, On-Demand Courses

Top Industry Issues

Surviving This Economic Tsunami
Presenters: Mark Borofsky, CORE Strategies, LLC and Jerry Janes, FORIUS Business Credit Resources
MAS/CAS: MAS - 1.5 points
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

If All You Have is a Life-Jacket, You're Going to Drown

YOU WILL NEED A LIFE-BOAT!

This webinar will explain just how this economic tsunami is impacting the country and more specifically, the Promotional Products industry.

• How we got here, the markets that will be most affected and what that means to suppliers and distributors alike,
• What to do in handling the credit squeeze from banks and lending institutions, and how to internally cash flow your company,
• Understanding who is not qualified to handle the credit function and why,
• Why now is the time to beef up the credit function / responsibility of your company,
• Why you need the best of the best handling your credit function and how significant changes in the way you handle credit can make or break your company, including a new service and product that will watch your accounts,
• This webinar will also review ideas for maintaining market share or even growing your sales by utilizing the credit function as an extension of sales,
• Finally, how to handle the potential increase of bankruptcies

Members Click HERE to Register

Nonmembers Click HERE to Register

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
Presenter: John S. Satagaj, Esq., PPAI Legal Counsel
MAS/CAS: MAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: Free
Time: On Demand Program

Congress has approved the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) that will make significant changes to consumer product safety laws. PPAI reviewed this act and its implications on our industry. This informative webinar will give you practical guidance on what this law means to your business, including specific guidance on issues like the General Conformity Certificate, timelines and testing requirements.

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In a world of headlines about lead-laden products, do you know how to protect your business as well as protect the interests of your customers? PPAI published the Guide To Managing Responsibility for Product Safety, Social and Environmental Standards to educate members on steps to take.

Learn about the valuable information in this guide in a web presentation by guide co-author and PPAI Legal Counsel John Satagaj. He will share what you need to know about product safety issues today and how it can and will affect you. He discusses the resources provided in this guide and gives the questions you need to be asking your suppliers and manufacturers. From testing to social and corporate responsibility to current legislation, Satagaj gets real about product safety and the promotional products industry. And the good news, according to Satagaj, as an industry, we're ahead of the game.

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California's Proposition 65
Presenter: John S. Satagaj, Esq., PPAI Legal Counsel
MAS/CAS: MAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: Free
Time: On Demand Program

Also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Prop 65 affects firms that either ship goods to or distribute products in the state of California. It's important to note that the law reaches far beyond the state's borders.

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MAS/CAS Required Courses
Promotional Products Industry Overview, Part 1 & 2
Presenter: Joseph Scott, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: PPI - Part 1 and Part 2 = 3 points total
(Complete both sessions to receive the full CAS required course credit)
Member Price: $40.00
Nonmember Price: $100.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning the fundamentals of the promotional products industry. Learn about the history of the promotional products industry; types of promotional products; the roles of the distributor, supplier, manufacturer, multi-line reps and the end buyer; the business of promotional products sales and marketing; and types of promotional programs.

Click HERE To Register

Promotional Products Industry Overview, Part 1
Presenter: Joseph Scott, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: PPI - Part 1, 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning the fundamentals of the promotional products industry. Learn about the history of the promotional products industry; types of promotional products; the roles of the distributor, supplier, manufacturer, multi-line reps and the end buyer; the business of promotional products sales and marketing; and types of promotional programs.

Click HERE To Register

Promotional Products Industry Overview, Part 2
Presenter: Joseph Scott, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: PPI - Part 2, 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning the fundamentals of the promotional products industry. Learn about the history of the promotional products industry; types of promotional products; the roles of the distributor, supplier, manufacturer, multi-line reps and the end buyer; the business of promotional products sales and marketing; and types of promotional programs.

Click HERE To Register

Promotional Programs, Part 1 & 2
Presenter: Dennis Gorman, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: PRO - Part 1 and Part 2 = 3 points total
(Complete both sessions to receive the full CAS required course credit)
Member Price: $40.00
Nonmember Price: $100.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning the fundamentals of the promotional products industry. Learn about the different types of promotional programs and the differences between product selling, idea selling and program selling. This two-part program discusses the elements of each program, how to use each program effectively, and how to uncover and qualify opportunities for different types of program sales.

Click HERE To Register

Promotional Programs, Part 1
Presenter: Dennis Gorman, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: PRO - Part 1, 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning the fundamentals of the promotional products industry. Learn about the different types of promotional programs and the differences between product selling, idea selling and program selling. This two-part program discusses the elements of each program, how to use each program effectively, and how to uncover and qualify opportunities for different types of program sales.

Click HERE To Register

Promotional Programs, Part 2
Presenter: Dennis Gorman, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: PRO - Part 2, 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning the fundamentals of the promotional products industry. Learn about the different types of promotional programs and the differences between product selling, idea selling and program selling. This two-part program discusses the elements of each program, how to use each program effectively, and how to uncover and qualify opportunities for different types of program sales.

Click HERE To Register

Advertising and Marketing Overview, Part 1
Presenter: Dan S. Bagley, III, PhD, CAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: ADV - Part 1, 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning the fundamentals of the promotional products industry. Learn about marketing, advertising and selling and how to develop an effective market plan. This program discusses the strengths of promotional products marketing and the three levels of selling - product selling, idea selling, and program selling.

Click HERE To Register

Best Practices/Supplier-Distributor Relations, Part 1 & 2
Presenters: Christopher Duffy, MAS and Tia Walker, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: BEP - Part 1 and Part 2 = 3 points total
(Complete both sessions to receive the full CAS required course credit)
Member Price: $40.00
Nonmember Price: $100.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning best practices in the promotional products industry and how suppliers and distributors work together. This two-part program discusses the role of the distributor and supplier, the individual processes of order placing/processing, accounting, imprinting and delivery, marketing and customer service.

Click Here to Register

Best Practices/Supplier-Distributor Relations, Part 1
Presenters: Christopher Duffy, MAS and Tia Walker, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: BEP - Part 1, 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning best practices in the promotional products industry and how suppliers and distributors work together. This two-part program discusses the role of the distributor and supplier, the individual processes of order placing/processing, accounting, imprinting and delivery, marketing and customer service.

Click Here to Register

Best Practices/Supplier-Distributor Relations, Part 2
Presenters: Christopher Duffy, MAS and Tia Walker, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: BEP - Part 2, 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning best practices in the promotional products industry and how suppliers and distributors work together. This two-part program discusses the role of the distributor and supplier, the individual processes of order placing/processing, accounting, imprinting and delivery, marketing and customer service.

Click Here to Register

Business Ethics
Presenter: Lori Patrick, Esq.
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: ETH - 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

This CAS required course serves as the foundation for learning the fundamentals of the promotional products industry. Learn about the importance of ethical standards and the steps in ethical decision making. You'll also learn about trademarks, copyrights and intellectual property rights.

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sm@rt Artwork Guidelines
Presenter: Dennis Burnham, MAS
MAS/CAS: CAS Required Course: ART - 1.5 points
Member Price: $20.00
Nonmember Price: $50.00
Time: On Demand Program

The promotional products industry prides itself on its ability to imprint a corporate logo or personalized graphic on just about any product or surface. However, a graphic designed for full-color imprinting on a catalog or for use on a Web site may not be what's required for a three-dimensional product in one color. Artwork is considered "ready" when it can be used for prepress and printing without the need for modifications that might incur extra charges or cause delays. Too often, when the order reaches the point of production is it discovered that the artwork is not of a sufficient quality or type required to produce the products. By being aware of sm@rt Artwork Guidelines, these situations can be avoided completely. Identifying the requirements through the use of sm@rt Codes and following the sm@rt Artwork Guidelines can insure quick, clean imprinting at an affordable price.

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Sales and Marketing Courses

Mapping Strategy Landscapes for You and Your Clients
Presenter: Tim Vlamis
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1.5 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

Landscape mapping is a specific technique that immediately translates complex business situations and marketing strategies into a picture that we as humans are hardwired to understand. Landscapes help create a shared understanding of destinations, pathways, and obstacles and directly lead to higher sales and profits. You will learn:

• Strategy landscape mapping techniques for marketing programs, promotional campaigns, and product development.
• Words and phrases that best communicate mapping concepts to clients.
• Ten minute strategy landscape technique.
• Biological justification why landscapes are hardwired in humans and facilitate rapport with clients across age, cultural, and other demographic boundaries.

Members Click HERE To Register

Nonmembers Click HERE To Register

Pantone - Inspire, Explore and Express the Color of Ideas
Presenter: Robert H. Finch, Pantone, Inc.
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: Free
Time: On Demand Program

Want to know ins and outs of the PANTONE® product collection? Want to discover how the Goe Guide can make color communication easy for everyone? Done, and Done. Talk about a class with color!

Click HERE To Register

Using New Marketing Media Tools
Presenter: Matthew Scott
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

Should you develop a blog or podcast for your small business? Every second around the world, two million e-mails are sent. Currently there are 15.5 million active blogs and more than 1.5 million blog posts read daily. These statistics reflect the explosion of users, devices and information delivery that is changing marketing for small business owners.

Attend this webinar--Using New Marketing Media Tools Webinar and learn how to embrace new media marketing technologies and how they can change business relationships.

Members Click Here To Register

Nonmembers Click Here To Register

Referral Magic: Proven Ways To Keep Your Customers Coming Back Again And Again
Presenter: Tony Rubleski, MindCapture Group
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

The average American is hit with more than 1,500 marketing messages each day. Few, if any, of these messages are noticed. Discover the secrets to capturing the attention of the 21st Century customer and ways to keep your customers coming back again and again.

Members Click HERE To Register

Nonmembers Click HERE To Register

Gift Cards: Adding Value For Your Customer & Sales For You
Presenter: Steve Woodburn, MAS, Summit Marketing
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

Steve Woodburn, MAS, has spent more than 20 years in the promotional products industry developing creative and innovative marketing solutions for Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Xerox, CIGNA Healthcare, Georgia-Pacific and Delta Air Lines. Woodburn is past president of GAPPP and the Board of Directors of the Regional Association Council (RAC), and was elected in the fall of 2006 to the PPAI Board of Directors.

Members Click Here To Register

Nonmembers Click Here To Register

How To Market To U.S. Latinos
Presenter: Kelly McDonald, McDonald Marketing
MAS/CAS: MAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

By the year 2020, Latinos will account for one in five U.S. residents. This presentation gives specific strategies and tactics for developing effective promotions and marketing messages targeted specifically to the Latino market.

Members Click HERE To Register

Nonmembers Click HERE To Register

Capturing The Mind Of Your Customers
Presenter: Tony Rubleski, Mind Capture Group.
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

We live in an interesting age. Never before have people had so many choices, options and marketing messages to choose from. As businesses compete to win new and repeat business, they’re up against intense and nimble competition along with highly selective and skeptical prospects that have seen it all and believe little if any advertising they see. Discover how to get into the headline-driven, highly selective, overloaded and wired mind of today's busy prospect.

Members Click HERE To Register

Nonmembers Click HERE To Register

General Management Courses

Quality Assurance Program
Presenter: Tom Harney
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

Recalls are capturing headlines nearly every week, and you may start to wonder just how close the issue is to affecting your business. Tom Harney, associate director of Specialized Technology Resources, Inc. (STR), an international independent testing lab, will walk you through the process of implementing a solid QA program. Harney will address all aspects of quality assurance, from selecting a factory and evaluating raw materials to testing, inspecting, auditing and loading of materials for transport. At the end of this presentation, you will have the tools necessary to begin implementing a reliable QA program for your organization.

Members Click Here To Register

Nonmembers Click Here To Register

Power Mentoring - Becoming an Influential Mentor
Presenter: Kathy Goodin-Mitchell
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

This session is designed for PPMN members who have volunteered to be mentors and for anyone else interested in becoming a better mentor. Learn how to hone characteristics that make you a good mentor, build beneficial mentoring relationships and when to know it's time to end it. In this one-hour interactive webinar, you'll discover do's and don'ts for being an effective mentor and creating a supportive relationship that works both ways.

Members Click HERE To Register

Nonmembers Click HERE To Register

Independent Contractors and the Promotional Products Industry
Presenter: John S. Satagaj, Esq., PPAI Legal Counsel
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

If you engage independent contractors, you may be subject to scrutiny by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS has taken a new interest in defining the classification of employees and independent contractors. An incorrect classification can result in taxes, interest and penalties -- all of which can add up fast. John Satagaj, PPAI's legal counsel, will present best practices on how to conduct your relationships with independent contractors and employees and help prepare you in case your business is targeted by the IRS.

Members Click HERE To Register

Nonmembers Click HERE To Register

How Full Is Your Bucket
Presenter: Paul Kiewiet, MAS, Incentive Marketing, A Corplogoware LLC Affiliate
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

Learn how to bring positive strategies to your work and personal life. Even the briefest interactions can impact your productivity, relationships and even your health. Higher worker satisfaction from more engaged employees who deliver a better brand experience to your customers is the result of creating a more positive work environment. Proven, scientifically sound research from the Gallup Organization outlines how to build a stronger workplace through positive strategies.

Members Click HERE To Register

Nonmembers Click HERE To Register

Hidden Asset In Your Company: Utilizing Cash Flow & Credit
Presenter: Mark Borofsky, CORE Strategies, LLC
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1 point
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand Program

This webinar covers many aspects of running credit and sales together, as a team. We discuss the two main reasons for business failure and how to keep that from happening to your company.

We also examine areas such as the cost of bad debt, how to run a credit investigation, using cash flow to stay out of debt and grow the business, and much more. In addition to all of this, you learn techniques to secure more orders, increase your cash flow, and reduce your bad debt.

Members Click HERE To Register

Nonmembers Click HERE To Register

NEW! Incentive Marketing Courses

Slaying the Dragon
Presenter: Pete Mitchell
MAS/CAS: CAS - 1.5 points
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: $30.00
Time: On Demand

How much of the $15 Billion Incentive market are YOU getting? Don't leave money on the table! Join us for a discussion about how to get involved in your clients' incentive programs. We'll give you step-by-step instructions on how to develop and execute an incentive program, and slay some myths about the incentive market and the retail brands that dominate it.

Members Click HERE to Register

Nonmembers Click HERE to Register

Miscellaneous Training

ADvocate Training: Sessions 1 through 3
Presenters: Jim Jacobus, Champion Education Resources; Rick Merrill, Director, PPAI Professional Development
MAS/CAS: CAS - 3 points (complete all three sessions to get the full 3 points)
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: Free
Time: On Demand Program

The PPAI ADvocate Program is designed to train promotional products professionals on how to make presentations to business groups about the power of promotional products and the importance of distributors as effective marketing resources. The objective is to educate buyers and potential buyers, and create an awareness of promotional products as a marketing medium starting at the community level.

Click Here To Register

sm@rt Art Codes
Presenter: Dennis Burnham, MAS
MAS/CAS: None
Member Price: Free
Nonmember Price: Free
Time: On Demand Program

This session is intended for suppliers in the industry. sm@rt Codes are located on a supplier's catalog right next to an item's price, photo and features and immediately convey the supplier's artwork requirement for that particular product and imprint process. sm@rt Codes consist of a combination of one number and one letter.

Click Here To Register