It's a new year, which means it's tradeshow season! At the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, Lisa Terry and SanMar's social media writer Josh Storey spoke with industry experts Bobby Lehew and Kate Plummer. Bobby is the Chief Content Officer at Commonsku, a comprehensive sales and marketing tool. Kate is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at customized awards manufacturer Clearmount.

In this episode, Bobby discusses the role of storytelling in business and dispels myths about the power of spontaneity, while Kate talks about her early start in business and explains how she's effectively built a community in her company, the industry and on social media.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• Bobby explains what storytelling means to him.
• How has the nature of storytelling changed, especially in regard to the development of technology?
• What you people do to make your story stand out when everyone has their own platform.
• Bobby's advice for creating empathetic bonds with your customers.
• How Kate defines community and why it's essential to any successful company.
• Why it's important to keep your viewpoints open and keep expanding your horizons.
• What's your differentiation point?
• The relationship between education and mentorship in building a community.
• Finding a community that fits your needs.

QUOTES

• "Every major religion, every major thought, every major philosophical idea has been carried on the back of a story." -- Bobby Lehew
• "If you know your audience well, then you'll know what they come to expect from a story." -- Bobby Lehew
• "We make our decisions emotionally and justify them rationally." -- Bobby Lehew
• "Ingenuity is taking any product that anyone can get and then transforming that into an experience which no one else can emulate." -- Bobby Lehew
• "You'd be surprised at how many people are very open to sharing their secret sauce." -- Kate Plummer
• "I am like a pirate: if I can pillage your brain for information, I am going after it." -- Kate Plummer
• "Reach out; be part of it." -- Kate Plummer

LINKS

• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp
• SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp