“You have to make yourselves heard“

D – It had been awaited with trepidation, anticipation and also scepticism: the first PSI Congress. It was held on October 6th, 2009 at the impressive setting of the Munich Allianz Arena. At the get-together on the eve before the participants had already had the opportunity for networking and an informal exchange of ideas in the relaxed atmosphere of the Kempinski Hotel Airport, Munich.

Approximately 70 branch participants – primarily directors from the promotional products branch – were offered a top-class programme, an attractive mixture between specialist lectures and discussions. The overall, very well-organised event was professionally hosted by Reed’s Press Officer, Dr. Mike Seidensticker. The external view of the branch formed the focal point of the agenda in the morning: Jörg Elfmann of the agency Grey, who stepped in at short notice for Bernd M. Michael who had been taken ill, and Michael Gross, ex-Swimming World Champion and meanwhile a successful agency proprietor, held speeches on the issue from the viewpoint of a marketing expert. In the opinion of many participants Michael Gross’ lecture entitled “Promotional products – just expensive special waste?“ did not quite match the level of Mr. Elfmann’s presentation in spite of his provocative theories. The subsequent podium discussion was one of the highlights of the Congress: Hosted by Patrick Politze, the President of the GWW (Association of the Promotional Products Industry e.V.) and Manfred Schlösser, the Chief Editor of the PSI Journal, among others the ZAW Spokesman and Managing Director Volker Nickel, w&v Chief Editor Dr. Jochen Kalka and Dr. Michael Gross discussed the significance of the promotional product for the users and the external presentation of the promotional products branch together with marketing decision-makers.