Bill Petrie

Current Topics and Descriptions

Creating Lasting Loyalty by Removing Client Friction

In our continually evolving marketplace, clients are seeking sales experiences that are as frictionless as possible. It's about going beyond the "big things" all distributors do well: source, decorate, deliver, and invoice merchandise. To truly stand out and reduce client friction in an amazon world, it's the seemingly small and insignificant areas where it's critical to give 100%. In this session, Bill will outline easily implemented, tactical actions that can be taken immediately to create an experience clients will gladly pay for again and again.

Finding Your Voice

In a mature industry with over 22,000 distributors selling the same merchandise, with similar pricing, to the same target audience, the single biggest challenge is that of differentiation. Standing out from the crowded marketplace is simultaneously the most critical and difficult undertaking in the promotional products industry. In this session, Bill will take a deep dive into the steps necessary to truly find your voice and elevate you, your company, and your brand from the clamorous crowd that is your competition.

Salt and Pepper (with Kirby Hasseman)

Bill Petrie and Kirby Hasseman will discuss relevant industry topics to present differing views in an educational environment. Utilizing a debate structure similar to politicians, Kirby and Bill will share their thoughts on a variety of issues that impact both supplier and distributor alike. Additionally, the audience will have a chance to ask both Kirby and Bill questions!

Margin Growth through Mystery and Magic

Learn how to build value, deepen relationships, and increase your margin through the magic of presentation. By leveraging language, creativity, and a dash of theatrics, you can build captivating relationships with your prospects and clients to increase your bottom line. Work smarter, not harder to maximize your sales opportunities for the greatest return.

Stealth Sales: Building Your Business By Serving the Underserved

Tired of fighting your competition over the same prospects? Then it’s time to learn how to gain a competitive edge with stealth sales strategies that will keep you and your brand top-of-mind. Build your sales by serving the client contacts that are eager for your creative ideas and that your competitors are ignoring.  

Putting the Social In Your Media (with Kirby Hasseman)

Every company, every brand, and every person is a media company, but very few act like it. Just as a media company creates a wide variety of programming to reach different target audiences, promotional products professionals need to leverage different media types to reach a higher level of engagement. From content marketing to video to blogging, this session will teach you how to leverage your unique voice to create meaningful media content that both engages and moves your target audience.

Creating the Culture of Wow! (End User Session)

Learn how to build value, deepen client relationships, and create brand preference by creatively using promotional products to engage your audience at multiple touch points. Through the combination of the right merchandise, packaging, and creating a memorable client experience, you will learn how to deliver the wow desired by clients and prospects alike. 

Biography

Bill has over 17 years working in executive leadership positions at leading promotional products distributorships. Through his career, his primary focus has been working collaboratively with others to achieve common goals. In 2014, he launched brandivate – the first executive outsourcing company solely focused on helping small and medium sized promotional products enterprises responsibly grow their business. In 2017, brandivate was acquired by PromoCorner where he now serves as President.

A featured speaker at numerous national and international industry events, a serial creator of content marketing, and PromoKitchen chef, Bill has extensive experience coaching sales teams, creating successful marketing campaigns, developing operational policies and procedures, creating and developing winning RFP responses, and presenting winning promotional products solutions to Fortune 500 clients. 

Service has always been at the forefront of Bill’s industry activities. Before relocating to Nashville, TN in 2011, Bill served on the board of Directors for PPAChicago and is the current President for the Promotional Products Association of the Mid-South (PPAMS). Additionally, Bill was recently elected to the Regional Association Council (RAC) board and has worked closely with senior executives at Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) on several committees and work groups – most recently for the North American Leadership Conference. In appreciation of his years of service to the promotional products industry, Bill was named as an inaugural PPAI Fellow – a program designed to recognize influential individuals who have actively supported the industry through personal involvement. 

Speaking Credits

  • PPAI Expo - 2007, 2008, 2016, 2017

  • CPPA Fall Show - 2015

  • PPAMS Winter Show - 2016, 2017

  • PPPC - Ontario - 2016

  • Expo East - 2016

  • The Tom Experience - 2016

  • skucon - 2016, 2017

  • skucon Chicago - 2016

  • GAPPP Winter Showcase - 2016

  • VAPPA End User Show - 2016

  • PPAMS End User Shows - 2017

  • PSDA Innovation Summit - 2017

  • High Five Conference - 2017

Contact and Connect

Email: bill@promocorner.com

LinkedIn: Bill Petrie