PromoKitchen Secret Recipe – Patrick Reinecker

Patrick is not only a really good friend of mine, but also a leader in the Houston Promotional Products community. When we bought our company in 2002, I met him at an HPPA meeting, and he realized how clueless my husband and I were about the industry. He then took us under his wing and taught us how the industry worked. Since then, I’ve come to realize that he’s that good to most people he meets! He’s a pay-it-forward kind of guy, and someone great to know. I’m proud to work with him at HPPA and to know him and his wife Kim as friends!

Patrick’s Bio

Patrick Reinecker started in this industry in 1993 as a Multi-Line Representative in the Midwest working for Brooks Bradford. Four years later, he moved back to Texas where he took a position with Larry Krause. In 2002, Patrick formed Reinecker Marketing and has been representing quality suppliers ever since. Patrick is very involved with the Houston Promotional Products Association as well and advocates for the Promo Industry whenever possible.

How did you get started in this industry?

My mother was involved in the promo industry as a distributor and after attempting to work with her for 5 months, mostly unsuccessfully, I was offered a Multi-Line Rep position in the Midwest. I was 24 years old, packed a moving truck and towed my car to St Louis where I found a place to live and covered a three-state territory. This was one of the most adventurous times of my life… young, single and traveling. 

What was the Coolest Project you have worked on and Why?

As an MLR we are not always directly involved in these projects but what we can bring to the table are ideas. In Kansas City, there was an up-and-coming brewery that is quite successful today. One of my distributors and I created a product marketing promo that became very successful. This brewery carried 5 styles of beers and each one had its own character logo. We incorporated products such as caps, bags, market umbrellas, sweatshirts, bar towels each had multiple logos. These were remarkably busy looking products, but the nature of the logos made them simply very cool! The bonus was that the brewery loved them and bought into every idea. Logos are logos but some are cooler than others. When a creative company lets you take that awesome logo and run with it, those become the products that end-users keep forever, which is the power of promo. 

What is your Biggest takeaway from your experience in this industry?

That it is true, we are the best, nicest, and funniest industry out there. The reps are cool, the suppliers are great, and the distributors are a blast. Spend an hour in a business meeting with them and they are the same people you want to go have dinner with and promise we will probably be the loudest table in the restaurant! It happens time and time again and the next time will be more fun than the last. 

Describe a non-profit or a cause you are passionate about and why?

Personally, my favorite cause is still in our great Promo industry, our local regional association. The Houston Promotional Products Association has a huge place in my heart. I first was a volunteer “door knocker” in 1999, and finally became a first-time board member in 2002. Since then, I have been involved in one form or another continuously and enjoyed almost every minute of it. I feel at our regional levels there is always work to be done, and I have never left. To get to service the distributors and other reps in my territory brings me satisfaction, regardless of whether it is a luncheon, a social or a major tradeshow, I just enjoy the results of a job well done. 

Tell us something within our industry you would like to change and why?

The promo Industry is still like a misunderstood child. We are forced to simplify explanations for people to understand what we do, like mention we put logos on caps and umbrellas, but we are so much more.

We solve work problems, safety issues, employee issues. We offer incentive, motivation, rewards, we solve real world problems with promos, but it seems we still have a long way to go. We are starting to see national commercials and all sort of new industry companies trying to get into our industry and they do help to a certain point, but I would love to achieve a better national understanding and knowledge of our promo world. 

What did you learn about yourself during the pandemic, and decided to change?

For some reason before the pandemic hit, I always felt behind in work. I believe we work ourselves into a routine, where are scheduling, packing, traveling, following up…. Not enough time in a day to get things done and still try to enjoy ourselves a bit. During the pandemic we had a chance to sit back and breathe, analyze how we were doing things and if those things are still relevant when the world clears up in the future. It taught me to reach out to our friends, a call instead of a text, a Zoom instead of a call.

Describe your Biggest strength related to your career and tell us how it helped you? 

I feel my biggest strength is my ability to get along and communicate with people. I feel everyone is on the same level and should be treated so. I want to help if you are the boss or the newest person in the room, and I can assure you I will treat every one of them with the same amount of respect. We are all salespeople, and we seem to be better talkers than listeners. However, if you try hard to hear what you’re being asked the first time, you can be more efficient and a larger asset to those you are assisting.

What advice would you give to your younger self or others starting out in the promo industry?

This is a tricky question as so many things can spin in my head, the standard answers would be to be patient, work hard, follow up. All true but I also feel that confidence in yourself is crucial. Trust your own decision-making abilities! We are not all the same and there are not always “standard” ways of doing things, so don’t be afraid of making a mistake. We are all individuals, make an educated decision, follow your plan, and trust that your plan is as good an anyone else’s because it’s yours. Confidence is the key, use it and show it. 

How do you spend your time when you are not working? What’s your greatest joy in life? 

My wife and I love to travel. We take lots of weekend trips whether it’s to the lake, the beach or to the hills, we’re blessed to live in an area where these are all available and close. Boating is an all-time favorite, and I also have a group of industry friends (boys’ trip) with whom I go to coastal fishing villages a few times a year and target Bull Redfish and Sharks. My greatest joy is my wife and family, we spend as much time as possible with family even though some are spread across this great USA we live in.