AIM/R on Tap (www.aimr.net/page/AIMRonTap) is a year-round, virtual education experience produced by the Association of Independent Manufacturers’ Representatives Inc. (www.aimr.net). These engaging, virtual sessions provide educational content for best practices and networking opportunities to its members. 

Charlie Parham, CPMR, CEO of Pepco Sales and Marketing, and chairman of the AIM/R board of directors, credits AIM/R on Tap’s genesis from a 2018 strategic planning meeting with the board. “We wanted to provide more than an annual conference, and the vision of a 24/7/365 association matured from that session,” he notes. 

The AIM/R board developed the idea and put a plan in place. Then, when the world shifted, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the way we all conducted business in 2020. AIM/R was prepared and immediately implemented On Tap sessions. 

From the beginning, the monthly gatherings have been met with enthusiasm from the member base. The first sessions were specifically pandemic-related, but the content was “by reps for reps” and attendance really outpaced expectations. This allowed the association a way to help its members with vital information and cultivate a networking environment more in line with the board’s 24/7/365 goals. 

As we have learned to live with COVID, AIM/R’s consistent efforts to deliver creative, rep-curated content every third Thursday of each month continue to draw audiences. The organization recently debuted its first roundtable format with AIM/R on Tap to simulate a virtual session of the immensely popular R.A.M. and R.I.S.E. roundtable sessions that are hosted each year at the annual conference. 

“I hope that as I leave the board, AIM/R on Tap becomes a tradition and legacy of my time serving AIM/R,” Parham says. “The name AIM/R on Tap comes from a combination of ‘tapping into’ the knowledge of your fellow reps as well as the valuable exchanges of information that happen in person at happy hours across the country.”

Since AIM/R on Tap’s inception, nearly 2,000 manufacturers and representative members have tuned into sessions, virtually sharing experiences and best practices within the industry. While topics vary monthly, some of our most popular sessions have been the following: 

“Managing Disruption”

“Email Marketing for Reps”

“Super-Charge Your Rep-Wholesaler Relationship”

“Marketing and Branding for Reps”

“Why is Data Important”

REMO, AIM/R’s virtual roundtable events for open discussions

Jeff Blair, president of Barclay Sales and senior vice president, education for AIM/R, continues to produce timely and critical content for the AIM/R on Tap sessions. Jeff was one of the key presenters for the “Marketing and Branding for Reps” session in 2021. He took previous experience as a presenter and developed a monthly events calendar to benefit AIM/R’s membership.

Here’s a look at upcoming AIM/R on Tap sessions:

June 16, 9 a.m. PDT, 11 a.m. CDT, 12 p.m. EDT (open to Rep members)

Topic: Contract Terms and Other Legal issues for Buy/Sell and Stocking Reps

Presenter: Dan Beederman, partner, SFBBG

 Dan Beederman has more than 40 years of experience in the rep field and is an expert within the industry. He will focus on best practices within buy/sell agreements and consigned inventories. Beederman serves as legal counsel for AIM/R and deals within the industry daily. In this session, he will detail the key points of setting up a contract when entering a warehousing or buy/sell relationship with a manufacturer. 

Sept 22, 9 a.m. PDT, 11 a.m. CDT, 12 p.m. EDT (open to all members)

Presenter: Blake Williams, president, Battle Tested Coaching

 Blake Williams is a mental performance coach with multiple certifications; he provides teams and companies coaching on the mental skills that are needed to succeed. Lacking mental skills adversely affects your performance. Some of the topics he will address are cultivating confidence, coping with mistakes, finding your focus, and lessons in leadership. Williams will be a keynote speaker at the AIM/R 50th Annual Conference (www.aimr.net/page/annualConference2022). He will offer a preview for his sessions this fall in Colorado.

Dec 15, 9 a.m. PST, 11 a.m. CST, 12 p.m. EST (open to all members)

Topic: Holiday Mixer and Virtual Networking

This session will be open to all members to get together on REMO. This will close the 2022 season for On Tap. Manufacturers and reps can gather to share holiday cheer and have open discussions, share best practices, or network at virtual tables. While the year will be ending, this session is one not to miss.

More sessions will be announced soon, so check out AIM/R on Tap for the latest updates. If you have a recommendation or would like to participate in an On Tap session, contact AIM/R at 630-942-651 or at info@aimr.net.

On Tap sessions are free to members and take place on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. Pacific, 11 a.m. Central and 12 p.m. Eastern. Registration for each event is available at aimr.net/AlMRonTap. 

Jeff Blair is the president of Barclay Sales Ltd., and Barclay Sales Alberta. He has been with the company since 1985 and has been president since 2008. 

Jon Wiggs, CPMR, CSP, has been with Wiggs-Haun & Bohan since 2005. He is a 2016 graduate from the University of Texas CPMR program. Jon serves on AIM/R’s board of directors.

Matt Guidish works as an outside salesperson and marketing director with Preferred Sales Inc. Since joining Preferred Sales in 2014, he has developed expertise across various product segments within plumbing, hydronics and HVAC.