March Madness! To different people and organizations it has different meanings. The NCAA brands and promotes “March Madness” and “Bracketville” is alive and well from the White House to your house (or office). The NFHS and its members experience the winter championship season that starts for most in February and ends in March which at times can be defined best as “Madness” or controlled chaos. For all of us, “March Madness” crowns champions and gets all of us at the edge of our seat with excitement and headline making experiences.

Team IP is also excited to announce its multi year partnership with the EVP Tour which has a 2012 national schedule in 18 cities across America. The sport of beach volleyball is also a TV favorite for the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London in July so look for your favorite players and let’s root the USA Beach Volleyball Teams to Olympic gold this summer!

-Randy Sparks

Progress is KEY in business and wakes us up everyday ready to go accomplish more!  Progress is definitely happening at Team IP embodied by the recent trip to Massachusetts.   Onsite merchandising by Team IP was occurring all over the country to include the neighboring New England States.  A visit to the Reggie Lewis Center for my first personal Indoor Track Championship was exciting, then on to the hollowed grounds of Harvard University in Cambridge for the MIAA Swimming State Championships.

Progress in our Ecommerce Division has allowed it to move into a larger facility this month and will be bringing all of our customer service personnel in house and has secured its staff.  Website sales continue to break records each month and state champions across the US are purchasing from Team IP from all of our different platforms.

Progress for E-ticketing and bundling merchandise sales is soaring as evident by the recent trip to Massachusetts.   The notorious TD Garden in Boston which is a Ticketmaster venue is now on board for MIAA.  Additionally, my fast tracked trip included the DCU Center in Worcester, the Tsongas Center in Lowell, and the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield.  Other states are in full acquisition mode to include Kentucky, Nevada, Florida, and New Hampshire.

Finally, progress is evident in our Corporate Promotions Division which has hired its newest employee to focus on the Treasure Coast and South Florida sales territory, Ronnie DeChambeau, along with introduction of Sheri Lazenby which is focusing on business development to include all of the members of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)  and the National Association of Sports Commission (NASC).   Stay tuned…..more to come!

-Randy Sparks

Team IP NFHS partners are located in all 7 states which represent the Ivy League members which are Harvard University (Massachusetts), Yale University (Connecticut), University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania), Princeton University (New Jersey), Columbus University (New York), Brown University (Rhode Island), Dartmouth College (New Hampshire), and Cornell University (New York). Team IP in the Winter High School Championship Season is scheduled to be at Harvard University for MIAA Swimming and Diving State Championships along with CIAC Girls Swimming and Diving Open Championships at Yale University. In the Spring High School Championship Season Track and Field is scheduled to be held at Dartmouth College for NHIAA and Brown University for RIIL.

2 012 is HERE!  Team IP has unveiled its new logo that celebrates our 20th Corporate Anniversary!  In 1992, Team IP became an official corporation and started its journey to become the #1 Amateur Souvenir Merchandiser in the US.  In 2011, Team IP rolled out its ’20/20 Vision’ Marketing Plan that defines our goals for this next decade.  Team IP went from one company with one vision to one company with three divisions and four pillars of success.  It’s amazing how times have changed from those simple but challenging days in 1992.  Yet today the goal is to streamline and create excellence with all the partners and consumers we serve.  Team IP and its team challenge itself to fulfill its mission statement which is the following:  (1) Honor God (2) Develop People (3) Strive for Excellence and (4) Make a Profit.

In 1992, smart phones, consumer confidence in e-commerce, and e-ticketing didn’t dominate our culture.  Today, Team IP’s “Merchandising Meets Technology” is ready to make the innovative difference for our partners and their consumers.

Our company’s mission statement is the focus as emphasized in our recent state of the company meeting in January that embodies the rally cry within our culture “Teamwork makes the DREAM work”.  That’s where each and every one of you comes into the picture.  Stay tuned…..more to come!

-Randy Sparks