A few days ago, I was chatting with one of my daughters about work, and she made a comment that stayed with me.  She said, “It’s easy to see how much you really like your job.”

And the truth is: I do.

I have always believed that gifting is a love language.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy making people happy, and I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy what I do so much.  There is something incredibly rewarding about finding the right product, creating something meaningful, and knowing that what we are putting into someone’s hands will make them smile.

When it comes to branded merchandise, I feel exactly the same way.

When we create a marker set and pair it with a coloring book, I can picture the child walking through an event, receiving that unexpected gift, and being genuinely excited about it.  When we produce employee apparel, I think about the employee bringing that new jacket home, showing their family what their company gave them, and then wearing it with a sense of pride.

Those moments matter.

I talk about this with my clients all the time: promotional merchandise has the ability to create a sense of ownership and belonging.  There is something powerful about receiving something that says, “We thought about you.”  It can make people feel recognized, appreciated, included and, yes, even a little bit special.

And in a world where we are constantly talking about numbers, metrics, ROI and KPIs, I sometimes think we forget about the human side of marketing.

Not everything can, or should, be measured by a number.

There is value in giving.  There is value in saying thank you.  There is value in recognizing an employee, celebrating a customer, welcoming someone to an event, or simply putting something thoughtful into someone’s hands.

That is what I value so much about this industry.  We don't just sell products.  At our best, we create experiences and connections through those products.

And that is exactly what I was reminded of last week at the Fall SAAGNY Show.

I genuinely enjoy walking a show floor and seeing what is new, discovering products I hadn't seen before, being reminded of what is in the market, talking with suppliers, sharing ideas with fellow distributors, and imagining how a particular product might come to life for a client.  I walked away with some great ideas for the fourth quarter, but more importantly, I walked away energized by the creativity and passion that exists within our industry.

Thank you to all of the suppliers, distributors and industry friends who came out and made the Fall Show such a great event. And a special thank-you to the SAAGNY volunteers who give their time and energy to help bring events like this to life. It is a great example of what we can accomplish when members share their time, talents, and ideas.  It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and to discover some new ideas along the way.

As we turn the corner into the final quarter of the year, we will, of course, be focused on the numbers.  We have goals to reach, budgets to meet and businesses to grow.

But let’s not forget the people behind those numbers.

Because at the end of the day, we aren't just delivering a tumbler, a jacket, a bag, a pen or a piece of apparel.  We are delivering a moment.  A thank-you . A recognition.  A connection.

And sometimes, making someone feel good is the most valuable thing we can give.

So yes, I love my job. I love the creativity, the products, the business of what we do, and most of all, the community I get to work with.

Wishing everyone a great fourth quarter.

Sara Levinson

President, SAAGNY Board of Directors