by sandy | Feb 21, 2020 | Brand Name Merchandise, employee engagement, improve employee engagement, program branding, Reward Employees
The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) recently published their Trends report for 2020. The trends in incentive, rewards & recognition programs for 2020 include:
- Strong support from the top. Those of us who have been designing employee programs understand that support from top management and company leaders is critical. According to IRF research, 94% of company executives consider employee reward and recognition programs to be a competitive advantage. This is a very positive trend since, according to a previous study, The IRF found that 19% of program cancellations were due to lack of support from company leaders.
- More program designers are measuring and reporting results. Before organizations like Gallup and The IRF were conducting studies and proving the effectiveness and return on investment of employee programs, many felt that they were “nice to have” and vaguely “improved morale”. We now know that employee reward and recognition programs deliver measurable results. As company executives demand value for every workplace initiative, more program designers are analyzing, measuring and reporting results.
- Providing experiences. For incentive travel, unique experiences are the trend. For non-travel programs, program designers have been moving away from cash for some time. Creating or providing memorable experiences are likewise important for employee reward programs. Many manufacturers now offer events or gifting suites where participants or attendees can “shop”, try on and select their own gift. Examples include categories such as watches and jewelry, sunglasses, designer handbags, name-brand sport shoes and more.
- Cyber security is a top priority. As incentive software becomes more sophisticated, managing risk online becomes even more critical. Program designers are collecting more and more data which helps to personalize the rewards and the experience, but also increases the risk to that employee or customer information. A trend for this year will be to commit to investing in the security of that data. Regulations, such as the European Union's 2018 implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which went into effect in January 1, 2020, are also driving increased measures to improve data management and security.
- Personalization is key. With increasingly sophisticated program software and participant data, program designers are finding ways to personalize reward options for program participants. Rewards that specifically appeal to the individual is more valuable and memorable. An experienced incentive professional can help to guide you through collecting the data and selecting reward experiences that will appeal to your specific audience.
Contact us today to discuss how you can capitalize on these trends to increase sales, improve performance, increase employee engagement and more!
by sandy | Sep 26, 2014 | Blog
Take a look at the beautiful new his & hers PRIME Collection (Premium, Recognition, Incentive & Military Exclusives) from our friends at Seiko. These styles are not available at retail. Best of all, they have been designed with Incentives in mind. This means; clean case backs ready for engraving and plenty of dial space for you customized dial imprint or medallion. The price is right! These styles start at MSRP of $200 each – and you won’t believe the discounts! Additional customization rates apply. Contact a member of our sales team for a custom quotes today!
Men’s 41.5mm model features date window, three hand movement and 100M water resistant with push button release clasp.
Ladies’ 28.5mm model features date window, three hand movement and 50M water resistant with push button release clasp.
by sandy | Sep 24, 2014 | Blog
All Star is a proud Bissell Rep and stocking distributor and we send congratulations to our friends at Bissell for a major accomplishment!
“It started with spilled sawdust…
Like many well-intentioned people who set out to have a relaxing Saturday, we didn’t mean to start cleaning—it just happened. In 1876, Melville R. Bissell and his wife, Anna, owned a small crockery shop in Michigan. Because they were constantly cleaning sawdust off the carpet of the shop (know the feeling?), Melville invented a unique carpet sweeper and patented it. When customers and friends began asking where they could buy the carpet sweeper, a new business was born.
It’s a BISSELL woman’s world…
That’s the theme at BISSELL. When Melville Bissell died in 1889, there was no question who would run the company. His wife Anna stepped in to lead the business, becoming the first female CEO in America. She aggressively defended the company’s patents and marketed sweepers successfully throughout North America and Europe. In fact, in the late 1890s BISSELL gained its biggest fan in Queen Victoria, insisting that her palace be “Bisselled” every week. Palace attendants must have loved the extra free time they had after royal messes became much easier to clean up.”
So few companies – organizations – have such a story, such a heritage. How many companies still have the same basic product in the line that started the company 138 years ago? (and, yes, sweepers are growing again this year).
As Mark Bissell so often reminds us, our heritage is a foundation, not a guarantee of future success. We have to earn the vote of our consumer every minute of every day. We must always be on the hunt for the new, relevant innovation we can bring to change the game.
Find the newest Bissell Sweepers and other exciting Bissell items in your rewards program catalog today.
by sandy | Jul 7, 2014 | Blog
As the New England Premium Rep for Seiko, All Star offers congratulations to Seiko ambassador Novak Djokovic on his Wimbledon title! On Sunday, Djokovic held off Roger Federer 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-4 to win his second Wimbledon title in four years and his seventh major overall. After you check out that amazing trophy, notice the Seiko Astron on his left hand!
Seiko Astron is the first watch to automatically recognize and adjust to the local time in each of the 39 time zones on currently observed on Earth. Astron receives all the power it needs from light absorbed through the dial. Not just sunlight, it is able to use all kinds of light, and store excess energy it produces in a power reserve whose charge level is indicated on the dial. Astron has a perpetual calendar that will not need to be manually corrected until February 28, 2100.
by sandy | Jun 18, 2014 | Blog
All Star is a big fan of Brookstone, and a Special Markets Rep for the Brookstone brand. Our personnel sure has the “bases covered” as the majority of us are faithful Red Sox fans as well. We are happy to share this news from Brookstone, showing their support of our favorite team and celebrating their roots and ties to New England. Go Sox!
Brookstone® Delivers Official Pillows, Massagers and Wireless Music Systems of the Boston Red Sox
Merrimack, NH – April 25, 2014—When Red Sox players head to Fenway Park this season, they’re going to see a new dedicated “Sleep Room” outfitted with BioSense® pillows and other locker room upgrades from Brookstone. The New England product developer and specialty retailer today announced their official partnership with the Boston Red Sox for the 2014 season.
“We’re supplying the Red Sox with MAX® percussion massagers, Big Blue® wireless speakers, and, of course, a Brookstone massage chair,” said Steven Schwartz, Brookstone Vice President of Merchandising & Product Development. “At Brookstone, we develop products that are all about helping everyone enjoy a fun and healthy lifestyle. What better way to help the team than to give them our best sleep pillows, body massagers and wireless music systems?”
Red Sox fans will see the Brookstone brand all around Fenway Park, too, with signs behind home plate and Brookstone-sponsored phone charging stations. Brookstone is also the official sponsor of batter walkup music.
“This is a big deal for us,” said Schwartz. “While we develop products for sale all over the world, joining the Red Sox in this partnership is the perfect way to celebrate our roots and ties to New England.”
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