Rewards & Recognition (April 2011)

• Be Part of the Movement: The EEA Networking Conference & Expo.
• Dittman Adds Virtual Gift Cards to Incentive Rewards Portfolio.
• Castle Merchandising Receives Award from TharpeRobbins.
• Noel Lee Honored with Shining Star Award from Rymax.
• TUMI Introduces Eyewear.
• Engagement Event Returns $2 for Every Dollar Spent.
• Authenticity, Tree-Pruning and the 'Wisdom of Crowds'.
• Gift Card Landscape Has Shifted, Bringing New Vistas, Values.
• White Paper Links Social Media and Performance.
• About Selling Communications Inc.

News Briefs

Be Part of the Movement: The EEA Networking Conference & Expo

Learn how Enterprise Engagement can transform your business and your career at the Enterprise Engagement Alliance Networking Conference & Expo, June 1-2, Doubletree Hilton, Tarrytown, NY. Enterprise Engagement is emerging as an important business discipline that can help almost any type of organization achieve greater long-term performance and profitability. Get actionable information in a special two-day conference designed for:

• Management at corporations, not-for-profit, or government agencies seeking new ways to improve performance by maximizing the engagement of customers or volunteers, distribution partners, sales and nonsales employees, vendors and communities.
• Management at marketing and consulting companies seeking to understand how to profit from this emerging new business – learn why more and more companies are becoming "Engagement Agencies"

In addition to two days of Education, meet with suppliers of different types of engagement products and services to learn about new solutions you can bring to your organization or to your clients. For more information and to register, go to www.eeaexpo.org

Dittman Adds Virtual Gift Cards to Incentive Rewards Portfolio

Dittman Incentive Marketing has added virtual gift cards to the already broad array of incentive reward options they offer clients, including brand-name merchandise, travel rewards and event tickets. Individuals can redeem rewards program points for the cards, which come in different denominations and are available for major retailers including Amazon, JCPenney, L.L. Bean, Chili's Restaurants, Lowe's, Sports Authority, Celebrity Cruises and more. Multiple cards can be purchased at one time, and participants can even use the card in combination with their credit card toward their purchase of choice. Many cards can also be customized with a company's brand or program theme. Dittman Incentive Marketing is a leading provider of incentives, rewards and recognitions programs using online software (SaaS) to help companies realize immediate ROI in motivating sales people, employees, channel partners, and customers. For more information, go to www.dittmanincentives.com

Castle Merchandising Receives Award from TharpeRobbins

Castle Merchandising Inc. has been named as a recipient of the second annual TharpeRobbins Award of Excellence for Vendor Partnership. Castle Merchandising is a supplier of retail brand name watches specifically for special markets usage, including recognition, incentives, corporate gifts, and service awards. Only 21 vendors out of hundreds were named as recipients of the second annual awards. As a leader in the managed recognition and rewards industry, TharpeRobbins is passionate about bestowing recognition whenever it is deserved, so it created these awards for its extended family of vendor partners. Castle Merchandising has supplied quality brand name watches to the special markets industry for 15 years. The company's owners have a combined total of more than 45 years in the industry, specializing in both brand name and private label watch distribution. More information on Castle Merchandising can be found at www.castlepremium.com.

Noel Lee Honored with Shining Star Award from Rymax

Noel Lee, founder and "Head Monster" of Monster Cable Products, Inc., recently received the Shining Star Award from the NJ Nets and Rymax Marketing Services Inc. This prestigious award honors Rymax partners, clients and community leaders who demonstrate outstanding performance in their industries. Lee was presented with a plaque and a Baccarat Gingko Bowl in a ceremony that took place at center court before the New Jersey Nets vs. Miami Heat game at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Monster Cable was founded in 1979 in Lee's garage and has since grown into one of the world's premier consumer electronics brands, helping to transform the entire audio industry. Rymax chose to honor Lee on behalf of Monster Cable to recognize their success and dedication to providing the best quality, high-performance products in the consumer electronics industry, as well as their demonstrated commitment to a growing partnership with the organization. For more information, visit www.rymaxinc.com

TUMI Introduces Eyewear

TUMI recently announced the introduction of its first ever collection of sunglasses, the Traverso Collection, expanding its diverse portfolio of premium lifestyle accessory offerings. All of the sunglasses in the collection are engineered for performance, fit and function, employing the latest technology and materials. Renowned lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss developed an exclusive Polarized lens for Tumi that offers superior optical and visual properties alongside an innovative anti-dirt coating that provides durable and steady performance over time. Eyewear frames are constructed using beta titanium, featherweight aluminum, handmade acetate and non-corrosive stainless steel. Hand-wrapped leather treatments, special acid- and laser- etching techniques and unique injected rubber temple tips all evoke classic TUMI style. More info at www.tumispecialmarkets.com 

[ return to top ]

Insights from ESM Rewards & Recognition e-News

Engagement Event Returns $2 for Every Dollar Spent

The Enterprise Engagement Alliance (EEA) recently announced that research measuring the return on investment (ROI) of an annual meeting of healthcare insurance brokers that stressed training, relationship-building and networking opportunities found the sponsoring company enjoyed a return of almost $2 for every $1 invested in the program. Initial results reported in March revealed that the program had a profound impact on the way brokers thought and felt about the company, its products and its people. Part 1 of the report, The 'ROI in Channel Partner' Conferences – A Case Study, noted that the annual gathering translated into higher sales, performance and engagement among those who attended. Part 2 of the report examines the actual change in sales of Allsante, Inc.* products among program participants, summarizing the ROI the company achieved from the event. EEA analysis of the methodologies and findings reveals that Allsante earned significant ROI from its annual event. "After all variables were accounted for, a highly credible and conservative estimate of 190% ROI was arrived at," says Allan Schweyer, Chairman of the EEA. "In other words, the company enjoyed a return of almost $2 for every $1 it invested in the first six months following the event, and our researchers say it's likely that the returns, if calculated after another six months have passed, will be even greater." Parts 1 and 2 of the study, The 'ROI in Channel Partner' Conferences – A Case Study, can be downloaded at www.enterpriseengagement.org

* The company in this report is referred to as "Allsante, Inc." at the firm's request, due to competitive reasons.

[ return to top ]

In the Next Issue of Engagement Strategies Magazine

The March/April issue of Engagement Strategies Magazine is out! Here's a look at what you'll find inside:

Authenticity, Tree-Pruning and the 'Wisdom of Crowds'

In a revealing Q&A with ESM's editors, author and motivation guru Derek Irvine talks about how building a culture of recognition offers the most direct path to engagement. To make sure you get your copy of Engagement Strategies Magazine, go to www.enterpriseengagement.org/account/login/ and update your subscription today!

Gift Card Landscape Has Shifted, Bringing New Vistas, Values

Four industry experts discuss how recent changes in the marketplace are affecting the use of gift cards as a motivational tool. Read more in the next issue of Engagement Strategies Magazine.

[ return to top ]

News From Selling Communications Inc.

White Paper Links Social Media and Performance

A new White Paper, How Social Media is Changing Corporate Performance, discusses how lessons learned from Social Media are helping corporate employee-engagement experts capitalize on the momentum in self-motivated, peer-driven participation. Corporate recognition, rewards and incentive programs for employees are actually the unsung pioneers of the kind of 'social points' activity like we see in Social Media games like Farmville and others. By leveraging the power of online systems, corporations can provide a familiar social environment similar to those in which people have already chosen to engage during their own time. You can bring the power of Social Behaviors to your employees by offering intrinsic/extrinsic motivation rewards and recognition programs. Peer-to-Peer awards let people recognize each other. Team-based activities allow for relationship-building and trust. Wellness programs show that you care about employees' health challenges and that you want to help through education and online tools. Open 'suggestion programs' accelerate innovation by creating a meritocracy. To view the full report, go to www.dittmanincentives.com

[ return to top ]

About Selling Communications Inc.

Selling Communications, Inc. is a fully integrated, target marketing, media and technology agency that improves results for clients by focusing on the people who matter most. We can help your business grow and save you money by targeting key prospects, getting their permission and strategically integrating your marketing and sales communications with the specific audiences most likely to affect your business performance.

Take advantage of these SCI services to improve your business development:

• Engagement Marketing Agency Solutions
• Target media
• Integrated Communications Technology

For more information on Selling Communications, its products and services, contact Jim Kilmetis at 914-591-7600, ext. 229 or send an e-mail to .

Tapping new customers, and keeping those you already have, costs less than you'd imagine...

[ return to top ]