Incentive - September 2008 - (Page 104)

In-Room Rewards PAGE 108 Ready, Set, Shop! PAGE 112 The right pillow gift can make the difference between a fun day and a perfect day—here are some tips how Shopping sprees are great ways to turn merchandise into exciting experiential awards Almo, PMC Join Forces New merchandise fulfillment firm’s focus on incentives By Leo Jakobson Virgin Motivates ‘Miles’ of Healthy Behaviors By Alex Palmer T wo of the leading merchandise fulfillment companies have joined forces to create a powerhouse in the premium and incentive distribution channel. Elkhorn, Wisc.–based Power Merchandising Corporation has joined with Philadelphia-based Almo Corporation’s fulfillment services division to form a new firm that it says is the largest distributor of consumer electronics in the special markets industry. The new company, Power Merchandising Company (PMC), can also offer clients turnkey fulfillment solutions and a significantly broader offering of brands and products than either company could provide separately, particularly in consumer electronics and appliances. By bringing on board Almo’s e-commerce division, which deals with accounts like Best Buy, Joe Corrigan, COO of PMC Home Depot, Target, Circuit City, Sears and Amazon.com, PMC will be able to provide special markets customers, “with the same service our e-commerce accounts demand,” says Joe Corrigan, PMC’s COO, pointing to capabilities like 24-hour warehouse staffing and same-day shipment for orders in by noon. “We are bringing that service to special markets.” The new PMC has 11 U.S.-based fulfillment centers as well as substantial automated and customizable services. Almo will continue to service the retail market separately. Speaking of the new company, Warren Chaiken, president and COO of Almo Corporation, says: “Our goal is to be a onestop source for our dealers and fulfillment customers, from brand diversity to product breadth to automated ordering and shipping services. The combination of our two operations creates a unique offering that will provide our customers not only the industry’s leading brands, but a complete selection of accessories as well.” … and in other industry news, Paul Spitzberg, who headed up Coach’s nowdefunct special markets division, and is a past president of the Incentive Marketing Association, has returned to the industry as executive vice president of sales for Chicago-based James Feldman Associates. T hough a voyage on Virgin’s new luxury spaceship would certainly be a nice incentive, the company’s wellness program, Virgin HealthMiles, offers something more practical for the average employer. That’s not to say HealthMiles, which awards “miles” and discounts to participants for Using everything from pedometers to heart monitors to flash drives, participants track how often, how long and how intensely they exercise, racking up miles into their account as they become more active. Employers that sponsor the program in their offices can put in kiosks where employees can HEALTHMILES healthy behavior, is lacking in ambition. As with most things Virgin, this program aims to be a little sleeker and a little grander than typical wellness offerings. “What’s important is building out more ways of earning because then it’s a richer program,” says Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles. weigh themselves or check biometrics like heart rate and body mass index (BMI). “If you can get somebody active, you’ve got them playing the game,” says Boyce. “The real credit is the things I do every day to maintain my health.” s Read more about HealthMiles at incentivemag.com/virgin 104 | Incentive | September 2008 | incentivemag.com http://Amazon.com http://incentivemag.com/virgin http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - September 2008

Incentive - September 2008
Contents
Editor's Note: The Best of Times and...
Headlines
Cover Story: MetLife Rethinks Recognition
Incentive Interview: Russ Edelman
Case Study Orkin: The Presidential Treatment
Coca-Cola Bottling: The Sweet Taste of Success
Keep Cash Off the Hood: Auto Incentives
Handle with Care: Motivating After Layoffs
Start Spreading the News: PR Incentives
Planning: Got Lemons? Make Lemonade
Industry Veterans Speak: The President Slept Here
Motivation: Action! Start Teambuilding Now!
Incentive Primer: How To Reward Well
Motivation@Work: The Character Connection
Travel News: Where To Go and What To Do
Top Undiscovered Destinations: New Territory
Field Report: South Africa In Style
Field Report: Golf's Pilgrimage
Potentials Here and Now
In-Room Gift Ideas: Pillow Talk
Shopping Sprees: Shop Till You Drop
Gift Cards: Plastic Is Perfect
Advertiser Index
Last Word: Outsmart! Author James Champy
Special Supplement: Mexico

Incentive - September 2008